LAWRENCE  J.  GUTTER 

Collection  of  Chicogoono 

THE    UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS 
AT  CHICAGO 

The  University  Library 


ef< 


ST.  MARK'S  CHURCH 
(From  the  North) 


Eeminifi^cencesi,  i?ote£i  anb  Eecorbs! 


THE   UNIVERSITY   OF   ILLINOIS  AT  CHICAGO 


3  8198  316  307  840 


Eeminisicencesi,  i^otes! 
anb  Eecorbsi 


€\)  ansiion,    KUtnoU 


^Robert  Jlolmesi 

Sometime  Curate  anb  CfjoirmaflJter 


To  My  Sister 

Fanny 

Without  whose  loving  care  and 
willing  cooperation  at  all  times,  such 
work  as  I  have  been  able  to  do  for 
thirty  years  at  St.  Mark's  Church, 
Evanston,  in  the  Diocese  of  Chicago, 
would  not  have  been  possible. 


A  FOREWORD 

It  has  been  somewhat  of  a  puzzle  to  find  a  name  that 
would  convey  a  fairly  accurate  idea  of  the  contents  of  this 
book.  Perhaps  the  title — Reminiscences,  Notes,  and  Rec- 
ords is  about  as  good  as  any  other,  since  the  entire  con- 
tents might  be  classified  under  one  or  other  of  these  three 
words. 

A  Souvenir  Service  List  of  St.  James's  Parish,  Chi- 
cago, was  put  forth  in  connection  with  the  Twentieth 
Anniversary  of  the  Choir  of  that  church  on  November  19, 
1905,  and  is  indirectly  responsible  for  my  present  attempt 
at  book  writing ;  only  when  I  first  thought  of  such  a  thing 
it  was  to  be  much  more  modest  in  its  general  make-up 
and  strictly  confined  to  the  choir.  The  so-called  Souvenir 
Service  List  to  which  I  have  referred  was  in  reality  a 
small  pamphlet,  tastefully  arranged,  giving  the  music  to 
be  sung  at  the  anniversary  services,  a  historical  sketch 
of  St.  James's  Choir,  the  names  of  the  choirmasters  and 
organists,  and,  most  interesting  of  all  to  me,  a  complete 
list  of  the  anthems,  Te  Deums,  and  Magnificats  in  St. 
James's  choir  library.  I  was  at  once  greatly  interested, 
and  inwardly  resolved  to  see  what  could  be  done  in  a 
similar  way  at  St.  Mark's  on  perhaps  the  twentieth  or 
twenty-fifth  anniversaries.  But  they  came  and  passed 
on  ;  even  the  thirtieth  anniversary  arrived  and  nothing  had 
been  done.  Still  I  did  not  give  up,  only  I  had  a  deep  and 
growing  conviction  that  I  probably  should  not  see  many 
more  choir  birthdays  at  St.  Mark's,  and,  therefore,  the 
sketch  or  booklet  would  have  to  be  put  forth  without 
much  further  delay  or  abandoned  altogether. 


The  more  I  thought  of  the  undertaking,  however,  the 
more  attractive  it  appeared  and  the  more  desire  I  had 
to  touch  upon  some  things  belonging  to  the  parish  besides 
the  choir.  This  enlargement  of  my  original  plan  would, 
I  was  aware,  involve  considerably  more  time  than  I  knew 
how  to  find  while  attending  to  my  regular  duties  with  the 
choir  and  in  the  parish  office.  However,  I  did  make  a 
start  before  leaving  St.  Mark's,  but  by  far  the  greater 
part  of  the  work  has  had  to  be  done  since.  What  so 
interested  me  at  first,  i.  e.,  the  listing  of  the  music  of  our 
entire  library,  following  Mr.  Ernest  Sumner's  admirable 
method  at  St.  James's  as  given  in  their  Souvenir  Service 
List  and  in  the  putting  together  of  which  I  promised  my- 
self so  much  pleasure,  was  for  lack  of  time  most  cleverly 
taken  care  of  by  one  of  the  best  choristers  I  have  ever 
had  with  me  in  St.  Mark's  choir— William  Edward  Ash- 
well — to  whom  my  sincere  thanks  are  ofifered  for  his  very 
efficient  work. 

I  am  indebted  also  to  Mr.  Richard  C.  Wyman  for  re- 
freshing my  memory  relative  to  certain  events  which 
have  been  referred  to  in  the  course  of  the  book.  If  any 
person  is  peculiarly  qualified  to  write  up  the  early  history 
of  St.  Mark's  with  all  the  efifect  of  the  side-lights  it  is  Mr. 
Wyman,  because  he  not  only  has  an  exceptionally  good 
memory  for  the  events  of  those  days,  but  possesses  a 
wealth  of  clippings  of  all  kinds  to  reinforce  that  memory. 

Much  of  what  I  have  written  in  Chapter  Five,  which 
I  have  called  "The  Choir,"  is  largely  the  result  of  my 
association  with  Dr.  Little.  Perhaps  my  personal  com- 
ments on  the  music  of  the  services  and  of  the  various 
phases  of  choir  work  may  be  looked  upon  in  some  quar- 
ters as  gratuitous.  They  are,  however,  impressions  gained 
in  no  school  of  theory,  but  convictions  arrived  at  in  the 
course  of  thirty  years  of  hard  experience. 


CONTENTS 

Chapter  I 

Page 
Historical  Sketch  of  the  Parish 13 

Chapter  II 
Some  Prominent  Parishioners — Past  and  Present..     35 

Chapter  III 
Special  Services  and  Occasions 45 

Chapter  IV 
Choirmasters  and  Organists 91 

Chapter  V 
The  Choir  107 

Chapter  VI 
Sundry  Parish  Records 131 

Chapter  VII 
St.  Mark's  Choir  Library 163 

Chapter  VIII 
A  Retrospect    179 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


St.  Mark's  Church   (From  the  North) Frontispiece 

St.   Mark's   Church    (Some   early   views) Opposite    25 


The  Comstock  Memorial  Altar 

Rev.  Arthur  W.  Little,  L.  H.  D 

5  Rev.  Arthur  Rogers,  D.  D 

6  Robert    Holmes,    Choirmaster 

7  St.   M^ark's   Church    (North   Side) 

8  Stanley  A.    Martin,   Organist 

9  St.   Mark's  Choir  Room 

10  St.   Mark's  Church    (West  Front) 

11  St.  Mark's  Church  (West  Front  and  Nave).. 

12  Rev.  Robert  Holmes  


42 

59 

74 

94 

98 

106 

111 

126 

147 

185 


ilifiitortcal  ^feetci)  of  ti)e  $artsil) 


aaectotsi  of  ^t.  0lat'k'i 


J.  W.  Buckmaster 

Thomas  Lyle 

A.  J.  Barrow 

C.  S.  Abbott 

J.  Stewart-Smith 

Frederick  S.  Jewell 

Richard  Hayward 

Arthur  W.  Little 

Harry  S.  Longley 

Arthur  Rosfers 


Chapter  I 


chapter  0nt 

HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  ST.  MARK'S  PARISH 

I  have  been  thoroughly  over  the  records  of  St.  Mark's 
parish  from  the  year  in  which  it  was  organized,  1864,  with 
the  intention  of  making  some  personal  notes  thereon. 
Since  doing  this,  however,  I  have  again  read  the  brief 
sketch  of  the  parish  as  given  in  the  History  of  Evanston, 
edited  by  Harvey  B.  Hnrd,  LL.  D.,  and  Robert  D.  Shep- 
pard,  D.  D.,  and  I  find  it  covers  so  well  all  the  more  im- 
portant events  up  to  1906,  the  year  of  its  publication,  that 
I  cannot  do  better  than  reproduce  it  here.  Besides,  it  is 
quite  apparent  that  the  information  given  was  furnished 
by  the  Rev.  Arthur  W.  Little,  L.  H.  D.,  rector  of  the 
parish, — the  one  person  of  all  others  best  qualified  to 
write  upon  the  subject — and  that  the  editors  used  it  in  its 
entirety  as  it  came  from  the  pen  of  Doctor  Little. 

Speaking  of  the  earlier  rectors  of  St.  Mark's,  Doctor 
Little  dwells  very  naturally  upon  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
J.  Stewart  Smith,  while  the  Rev.  Frederick  W.  Jewell, 
D.  D.,  the  immediate  successor  of  Fr.  Smith,  has  left  us 
so  remarkable  a  tribute  to  the  work  and  influence  of  that 
faithful  priest  that  I  am  giving  it  a  place,  following  the 
brief  history  of  the  parish,  exactly  as  it  appears  in  Doctor 
Jewell's  own  handwriting  on  the  opening  pages  of  the 
second  parish  register. 


When  St.  Mark's  celebrated  its  fiftieth  anniversary 
on  April  25th,  1914, — the  patronal  festival,  the  only  for- 
mer rectors  then  living  were  Bishop  Longley  and  Fr. 
Stewart-Smith,  both  of  whom  were  present  at  the  choral 
Eucharist  and  at  the  luncheon  that  followed  it.  I  have 
never  ceased  to  regret  that  the  very  priest  who  in  early 
days  had  done  more  than  all  others  for  the  parish  should 
have  had  no  official  part  in  the  service  that  marked  so  im- 
portant an  event  in  its  history.  On  the  occasion  of  the 
twentieth  anniversary  of  the  opening  of  the  present  St. 
Mark's  church,  Easter  Day,  1911,  I  invited  Fr.  Smith  to 
send  me,  as  associate  editor  of  The  Lion  of  St.  Mark,  a 
few  words  for  publication  in  the  magazine  on  the  days  of 
his  pastorate  in  Evanston.  His  reply,  which  may  be  found 
in  the  chapter  on  Special  Services  and  Occasions  will,  I 
feel  sure,  be  read  with  considerable  interest. 


"In  the  year  1864  there  were  in  Evanston  only  three 
or  four  families  who  really  belonged  to  the  Episcopal 
Church.  There  were,  however,  several  leading  citizens 
who  loved  the  Prayer  Book,  and  were  ready  to  aid  in 
starting  a  parish  church.  There  were  also  certain  other 
public  spirited  men  who,  from  considerations  of  civic 
pride,  desired  to  see  an  Anglican  church  in  the  village. 
Thus  the  way  was  opened  for  the  founding  of  St.  Mark's 
Church. 

"In  the  spring  of  1864  the  Rev.  John  Wilkinson,  a 
priest,  and  chaplain  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Whitehouse, 
Bishop  of  Illinois,  was  permitted  by  the  courtesy  of  the 
Methodists  to  give  notice  in  the  chapel  of  the  University 
that  a  parish  would  be  organized  according  to  the  canons 
of  the  Diocese  of  Illinois,  and  that  the  organization  would 
take  place  on  April  20th.  At  this  meeting  a  canonical 
organization  was  effected  under  the  title  of  St.  Mark's 
Parish,  and  Mr.  Charles  Comstock  and  Mr.  D.  J.  Crocker 
were  chosen  church  wardens.  St.  Mark's,  therefore, 
started  as  a  parish,  and  was  never  a  mission. 

"The  first  service  was  held  on  the  third  Sunday  of 
May,  1864,  in  the  building  then  known  as  the  First 
Methodist  church.     After  that  the  services  were  held  in 


the  chapel  of  the  University,  the  Rev.  I.  Holcombe  being 
priest  in  charge.  There  are  many  interesting  reminis- 
cences of  his  ministry  here  as  a  temporary  supply  for 
about  a  year,  although  it  was  indeed  the  day  of  small 
things. 

"Early  in  the  spring  of  1865  the  Rev.  iMr.  Holcombe 
was  transferred  to  the  Diocese  of  Wisconsin,  and  for 
several  weeks  there  seem  to  have  been  no  public  services 
of  the  Church.  Meantime,  however,  the  Trustees  of  the 
University  kindly  gave  the  parish  a  lot  of  land  on  the 
north  side  of  Davis  Street,  between  Ridge  and  Oak  Ave- 
nues, sixty  feet  front  by  150  feet  deep,  upon  which  a 
small  wooden  church  was  built.  On  September  15th  of 
the  year  1865  the  church,  being  free  from  debt,  was  con- 
secrated by  Bishop  Whitehouse.  the  solemn  function  being 
attended  by  the  clerical  and  lay  members  of  the  Diocesan 
Convention,  which  was  in  session  that  week  in  Chicago. 
At  the  same  time  the  Rev.  John  W.  Buckmaster,  a  priest 
of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  was  made  rector  of  the 
parish.  From  that  day  to  this  there  has  been  no  inter- 
ruption in  the  parochial  work  of  this  church.  The 
Eucharistic  sacrifice  has  been  offered,  and  all  the  sacra- 
ments have  been  duly  celebrated,  while  divine  worship 
and  preaching  of  the  gospel  have  been  maintained,  with 
much  charity  and  good  work  for  the  bodies  as  well  as 
for  the  souls  of  men.  When  there  has  been  a  vacancy 
in  the  rectorship,  there  have  always  been  temporary 
supplies. 

"The  first  class  of  candidates  for  Confirmation  was 
presented  by  the  rector,  Mr.  Buckmaster,  on  March  26, 
1866.  It  consisted  of  ten  persons  who  were  confirmed 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  J.  C.  Talbot,  D.  D.,  Bishop  Coadjutor  of 
Indiana,  acting  for  the  Bishop  of  Illinois.  It  was  like 
the  day  when  St.  Peter  and  St.  John  came  down  from 
Jerusalem  to  Samaria,  and  laid  their  hands  in  apostolic 
benediction  upon  the  first  converts  who  had  been  baptized 
by  St.  Philip.  This  was  the  only  class  presented  by  the 
first  rector;  ten  confirmations  in  two  years — an  average 
of  five  a  year.  This  rectorship  lasted  from  September, 
1865,  to  April,  1867. 

17 


"During  much  of  the  history  of  St.  Mark's,  the 
parish  undoubtedly  suffered  from  the  shortness  of  the 
rectorships — a  thing  which  seriously  interrupts  parochial 
work  and  the  pastoral  relation.  The  first  ten  years  show 
four  rectorships,  besides  two  years  of  supplies.  The  next 
thirteen  years  show  three  rectorships,  with  about  two 
years  of  supplies;  in  short,  up  to  the  year  1888,  the  aver- 
age rectorship  was  less  than  three  years.  This  seems  like 
the  Methodist  system  grafted  upon  the  old  Church.  It  is 
wholly  contrary  to  the  Church  idea  and  was  the  cause  as 
well  as  the  result  of  evil. 

"The  second  rector  of  St.  Mark's  was  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Lisle  of  Philadelphia,  who  was  the  parish  priest 
here  from  the  20th  of  May,  1867,  to  the  7th  of  June,  1869. 
Great  progress  was  made  during  this  rectorship.  The 
fact  is,  the  people  of  the  village  began  to  realize  that  St. 
Mark's  Church  was  here,  that  it  stood  for  something, 
and  that  it  had  come  to  stay.  Moreover,  the  village  was 
growing  quite  rapidly  at  that  time.  It  is  recorded  that 
the  number  of  families  and  communicants  in  the  parish 
doubled  in  those  two  years.  The  church  building  was 
also  greatly  enlarged  by  being  lengthened,  and  a  small 
wooden  tower  was  built,  containing  a  bell  made  by  the 
Meneely  Bell  Company  of  Troy,  New  York.  So  that, 
from  that  day  St.  Mark's  has  never  been  without  "the 
sound  of  the  church-going  bell,"  to  tell  of  God  and  to 
summon  to  the  House  of  God,  except  during  the  time 
after  the  new  church  was  built  and  until  the  beautiful 
chimes  of  St.  Mark's  were  installed. 

"Bishop  Whitehouse  made  his  first  episcopal  visita- 
tion for  Confirmation  on  April  19,  1868,  confirming  a  class 
of  four  persons;  and  again,  on  April  25th  of  the  year 
1869,  when  he  confirmed  ten,  making  fourteen  who  re- 
ceived the  sacrament  of  Confirmation  during  this  rector- 
ship. 

"From  June,  1869,  until  April,  1872,  there  was  one 
short  rectorship  with  several  priests  in  charge  as  tem- 
porary supplies.  Not  much  work  was  done.  There  were 
no  confirmations.     The  rectorship  was  that  of  the  Rev. 


A.  J.  Barrow,  from  November,  1869,  to  September,  1870 
— less  than  a  year. 

"In  April,  1872,  the  Rev.  C.  S.  Abbott  became  rector, 
and  remained  until  1875.  He  was  a  kindly  and  faithful 
priest  and  pastor.  He  presented  three  classes  for  Con- 
firmation, containing,  respectively,  one,  five  and  twelve 
souls,  making  eighteen  confirmations. 

"During  this  rectorship,  as  early  as  in  the  year  1873, 
plans  for  building  a  new  church  began  to  be  formed.  The 
scheme,  however,  was  rejected  by  the  vestry  on  what  were 
probably  wise  and  prudent  considerations.  There  had 
been  what  is  familiarly  known  as  a  great  "boom"  in 
Evanston.  After  the  Chicago  fire,  many  Chicago  people 
were  left  homeless  and  came  out  to  this  suburb  to  live. 
Among  them  were  many  Church  folk.  Thus  the  parish 
received  a  great  accession  of  numbers  and  strength.  But 
the  vestry  knew  that  many  of  these  would  go  back  to  Chi- 
cago, and  that  the  boom  was  an  artificial  one  and  could 
not  be  depended  on.  Consequently  they  were  not  willing 
to  undertake  either  the  building  or  enlargement  of  the 
church.  But,  as  often  happens  in  such  cases,  the  women 
of  the  parish  were  roused  to  action,  as  appears  from  the 
following  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  vestry  of  St. 
Mark's  under  date  of  July  11,  1875  : 

"A  proposition  of  the  women  of  the  parish  to  en- 
large the  church  building  at  their  own  cost,  by  widening 
it  about  twelve  feet  on  the  east  side  and  making  some 
other  minor  improvements  incidental  thereto,  was  laid 
before  the  vestry.  After  a  discussion  of  the  plan  pro- 
posed, it  was  unanimously  resolved  (note  the  unanimity 
with  which  it  was  resolved),  'that  the  ladies  of  the  parish 
be  allowed  to  enlarge  the  church  building  at  their  own  ex- 
pense, provided  that  the  contract  be  so  made  as  in  no  way 
to  make  the  vestry  liable  or  to  incumber  the  church  build- 
ing for  any  part  of  the  cost  of  the  contemplated  improve- 
ment.' 

"The  good  women  were  not  abashed ;  they  took  hold 
and  built  what,  in  ecclesiastical  language,  is  known  as  the 
south  aisle  of  the  church.  The  example  of  the  women 
produced  an   effect   which   was   that,    subsequently,   the 


Men's  Guild  of  the  parish  built  and  added  to  the  old 
church  the  north  aisle. 

"I  have  thus  very  briefly  sketched  the  first  ten  years 
of  the  parochial  life  of  St.  Mark's.  God  alone  knows  the 
unrecorded  works ;  the  faith  and  charity  that  went  on  all 
through  that  decade ;  the  earnest,  devoted  and  faithful 
struggles  of  the  laymen  to  maintain  the  church ;  the  faith- 
ful pastoral  work,  and  the  preaching  by  the  three  rectors 
and  the  various  temporary  supplies.  These  things  are 
written  in  the  Lamb's  Book  of  Life. 

"Towards  the  close  of  the  period  of  ten  years,  hard 
times  came  upon  the  parish  and  the  town.  Many  of  the 
refugees  from  the  Chicago  fire  had  moved  back  to  their 
own  rebuilded  homes.  There  had  been  a  great  panic  in 
the  financial  world,  and  men  felt  the  pressure  of  straight- 
ened resources.  The  congregation  fell  off.  It  is  recorded 
that  the  Sunday  morning  congregation  that  used  to  fill  the 
church  had  now  dwindled  down  to  thirty-five  or  forty 
persons,  hardly  more  than  the  present  choir. 

'These  first  ten  years  of  parochial  administration  of 
St.  Mark's  were  years  when  the  parish  work  was  done 
on  what  may  be  called  Protestant  lines.  The  general 
teaching  and  tone  of  the  Church,  aside  from  the  irresist- 
ible influence  of  the  Prayer  Book,  were  hardly  above  the 
average  Puritan  level.  One  may  see  something  of  this, 
for  example,  in  the  fact  that,  during  those  ten  years  there 
were  but  fifty  confirmations — an  average  of  five  a  year. 
There  was,  comparatively  speaking,  little  brightness  in 
the  service ;  there  seemed  to  be  a  fear  of  making  the 
service  of  God  beautiful ;  and  the  senseless  cry  of  *no 
popery'  was  raised  by  some,  over  things  that  are  a  part 
of  the  Anglo-Catholic  heritage.  The  building  was  un- 
churchly  and  unattractive.  The  altar  was  a  wooden  box 
only  four  feet  long,  without  cross,  vases,  altar  Hghts,  altar 
vestings,  or  even  a  full  set  of  altar  hnens.  There  was  no 
credence  or  prothesis.  In  celebrating  the  Holy  Eucharist, 
instead  of  the  unleavened  bread  which  our  Lord  used, 
common  bread  was  employed.  The  mixed  chalice  was 
not  used.  Eucharistic  vestments  were  unknown  ;  the  cele- 
brant wore  a  long  white  surplice  and  black  stole.     The 

20 


ablutions  were  not  performed.  There  were  no  early  Com- 
munions, and  the  Saints'  days  and  many  of  the  Church's 
holy  feasts  and  fasts  were  not  generally  observed. 

"With  the  coming  in  of  the  new  rector,  the  Rev.  J. 
Stewart-Smith,  which  coincided  with  the  advent  of  the 
new  Bishop  of  the  diocese,  a  new  system  was  inaugu- 
rated ;  and,  from  that  time  St.  Mark's  has  known  pros- 
perity and  progress  undreamed  of  before.  For  thirty 
years,  then,  after  the  first  ten,  the  parish  has  been  ad- 
ministered on  what  may  be  called  Anglo-Catholic  lines. 
In  the  History  of  Evanston  by  our  late  brilliant  fellow- 
townswoman,  Miss  Willard,  are  these  words,  describing 
the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  J.  Stewart  Smith : 

"  'This  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  order  of  things, 
wherein  was  a  striking  contrast  to  the  old ;  the  change 
was  a  marked  difference  in  Catholic  teaching  and  practice, 
and  the  work  then  begun  has  been  faithfully  increased  and 
widened  by  Mr.  Smith's  successors.  The  trend  of  this 
movement  has  steadily  been  in  harmony  with  the  Catholic 
revival  in  the  Anglican  Church,  and  St.  Mark's  has  been 
highly  favored  in  the  men  who  have  filled  her  pulpit  since 
then.' 

"It  is  impossible  to  overestimate  the  work  of  the 
Rev.  J.  Stewart-Smith,  the  fifth  rector  of  St.  Mark's 
He  was  the  curate  of  the  Rev.  William  E.  McLaren,  D.D., 
rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Cleveland,  when  Dr.  McLaren 
was  made  Bishop  of  this  diocese.  Mr.  Smith  was  then  in 
deacon's  orders,  but  the  Bishop,  knowing  the  worth  of 
his  young  curate,  nominated  him  to  the  rectorship  of  St. 
Mark's.  He  was  elected  by  the  vestry  on  the  30th  day  of 
January,  1876,  with  the  understanding  that  he  should 
become  rector  as  soon  as  he  was  advanced  to  priests' 
orders,  for  a  deacon  cannot  be  rector  of  a  parish.  He 
was  advanced  to  the  sacred  order  of  the  priesthood  on 
the  13th  day  of  February  of  that  year,  and  on  the  14th 
day  of  February — known  as  St.  Valentine's  Day — Mr. 
Smith  became  the  rector  of  this  church.  He  remained  as 
rector  for  about  four  years ;  that  is  until  January,  1880. 

"He  found  the  parish  very  badly  run  down.     The 

21 


services,  as  has  been  said,  were  Protestant  in  tone  and  un- 
attractive. That,  however,  was  characteristic  of  the 
Church  services  in  general  throughout  this  part  of  the 
land.  But  the  clergy  and  a  few  of  the  parishes  were  be- 
ginning to  feel  the  uplifting  tide  of  Catholic  reform  which 
was  then  spreading  over  England  and  the  East. 

"Immediately  upon  the  coming  of  the  Rev.  J.  Stewart- 
Smith,  an  improvement  was  seen  all  along  the  line,  and 
no  one  would  wish  to  go  back  to  the  condition  of  things 
that  prevailed  before  he  accomplished  his  great  work. 
But  his  work  was  not  accomplished  without  heroism,  per- 
severance and  indomitable  courage.  Almost  every  im- 
provement that  he  made  in  the  character  of  the  services 
was  opposed  or  criticized  by  some  section  of  the  parish. 
But  he  was  a  man  whom  nothing  could  discourage,  whom 
nothing  could  daunt.  The  fact  is,  the  whole  subject  of 
the  Church's  ritual  on  which  so  much  has  been  said  of 
late  years,  after  all  is  simply  this :  whether  we  shall  have 
a  reverent  behavior  in  the  House  of  God,  and  decent 
adornment  of  the  House  of  God,  or  whether  we  shall 
treat  God  and  His  House  worse  than  we  treat  ourselves 
and  our  own  domestic  dwellings. 

"A  bare  summary  of  the  chief  restorations  and  im- 
provements introduced  by  Mr.  Smith  must  suffice :  he 
secured  a  good  cabinet  organ  in  place  of  the  old  melodeon. 
The  church  was  repaired  and  decorated  in  as  churchly  a 
style  as  the  limitations  of  the  old  building  would  permit. 
A  large  altar  was  placed  in  the  sanctuary,  with  cross  and 
vases  and  proper  vestings  for  the  various  seasons  of  the 
Christian  year.  A  credence  was  procured.  Proper  vest- 
ments were  worn.  All  Holy  Days  were  duly  observed. 
Requiem  masses  were  celebrated.  Services  and  instruc- 
tions were  greatly  multiplied  and  the  pastoral  care  of  souls 
greatly  increased. 

"The  opposition  against  him  was  such  as  is  always 
met  with  when  a  sleepy  and  Protestant  parish  is 
brought  under  the  leadership  of  a  truly  Catholic  priest. 
But  his  loving-kindness,  his  tact,  and  his  perseverance 
conquered ;  and  when  finally  he  left,  the  parish  found  it- 
self transformed,  and  has  never  been  willing  to  sink  back 


into  the  condition  in  which  it  had  previously  been.  Father 
Smith  is  still  living  and  active,  the  rector  of  St.  Mary's, 
KansasCity.*  All  subsequent  rectors  have  simply  built 
upon  the  foundations  that  he  laid.  If  any  honor  is  due 
to  any  rector  of  this  parish,  it  is  above  all  to  the  Rev.  J. 
Stewart-Smith. 

"Aside  from  purely  local  and  parochial  work,  Mr. 
Smith  also  launched  forth  into  missionary  work  and 
Church  extension.  He  began  the  services  of  the  Church 
in  the  neighboring  villages  of  Winnetka,  VVilmette,  North 
Evanston,  and  Rogers  Park,  where  today  four  flourishing 
churches,  which  may  be  called  daughters  of  St.  Mark's, 
remain  as  monuments  of  Mr.  Smith's  zeal  and  devotion. 
The  time  had  not  yet  come  for  starting  a  mission  in  South 
Evanston.    That  was  done  a  few  years  later. 

"Every  year  of  his  rectorship  Mr.  Smith  presented 
good  classes  for  Confirmation,  numbering,  respectively, 
sixteen,  eighteen,  nine  and  seven  per  year.  After  his  de- 
parture, there  was  a  vacancy  for  about  a  year,  during 
which  time  four  persons  were  confirmed. 

"The  sixth  rector  of  St.  Mark's  was  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Frederick  S.  Jewell,  6th  of  May,  1880,  to  August,  1885. 
Dr.  Jewell  had  been  a  Presbyterian  minister,  but  had 
been  converted  to  the  older  Church,  had  been  confirmed, 
ordained  a  deacon,  and  then  advanced  to  the  priesthood. 
He  was  a  Catholic  Churchman  and  a  strong  and  brilliant 
preacher.  His  work  here  for  about  five  years  was  fruit- 
ful. One  interesting  feature  of  this  rectorship  was  that, 
in  the  year  1882,  there  was  organized  what  was  called  the 
"Men's  Guild."  During  the  five  years  of  its  existence  the 
guild  raised  nearly  $4,000.  It  was  the  Men's  Guild  that 
paid  for  building  the  north  aisle  of  the  church ;  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  choir,  and  in  large  part  for  the  pur- 
chase of  the  new  pipe  organ,  which  was  considered  a  fine 
instrument  for  those  days.  One  of  the  great  objects  of 
the  guild  was  to  promote  fellowship  in  the  parish,  visit 
the  newcomers,  get  acquainted  with  strangers,  and  sup' 
port  the  rector  in  every  one  of  his  works.  The  resuh 
was  that  everything  in  the  parish  was  strengthened,  di- 

*  Father   Smith  died   Aug.   11,   1915. 


rectly  or  indirectly,  by  the  Men's  Guild.  It  was  during 
this  rectorship  that  the  mission  in  'South  Evanston'  (now 
the  flourishing  parish  of  St.  Luke's,  Evanston)  was 
started,  not  without  the  help  of  Dr.  Jewell  and  the  Men's 
Guild  of  St.  Mark's. 

"Dr.  Jewell  was  the  first  to  complete  the  adornment 
of  the  altar  by  placing  upon  it  altar  lights.  During  his 
rectorship  Dr.  Jewell  presented  classes  for  Confirmation 
every  year,  numbering,  respectively,  nine,  four,  fifteen, 
nine,  and  ten  candidates. 

"Dr.  Jewell,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  rectorship, 
also  introduced  some  choral  services  which  are  now  so 
dear  and  uplifting  to  the  people  of  the  parish  and  of  the 
community.  Yet,  strange  to  say,  this  induced  opposition 
which  spread  throughout  the  parish.  After  faithfully  up- 
holding the  standard  of  the  Cross  here  for  more  than  five 
years,  the  good  Doctor  resigned. 

"The  seventh  rector  of  St.  Mark's  was  the  Rev. 
Richard  Hayward,  who  held  the  rectorship  from  Febru- 
ary, 1886,  to  May,  1888.  He  had  previously  been  a 
chaplain  in  the  United  States  Navy.  He  was  a  sound 
Churchman  and  a  good  preacher.  Two  notable  events 
marked  his  brief  rectorship  of  less  than  three  years.  The 
first  was  the  successful  introduction  of  the  vested  choir, 
which  took  place  on  Whitsunday  in  1887,  and  has  been 
the  greatest  blessing  to  the  public  worship  of  the  Church 
ever  since.  The  faithful  and  beloved  choirmaster,  Mr. 
Robert  Holmes,  has  been  the  choirmaster  nearly  all  the 
time  since  then. 

"The  second  notable  event  in  the  rectorship  of  Mr. 
Hayward  was  the  revival  of  the  scheme  for  building  a 
nev^  church  and  a  rectory.  Ten  thousand  dollars  (or 
nearly  that)  were  pledged,  payable  as  soon  as  the  church 
should  be  begun.  During  his  rectorship  Mr.  Hayward 
presented  three  classes  for  Confirmation,  numbering,  re- 
spectively, four,  thirteen  and  ten — an  average  of  nine  a 
year.  When  Mr.  Hayward  left  in  May,  1888,  for  about 
six  months  the  parish  was  vacant,  but  was  chiefly  in 
charge  of  a  faithful  priest,  the  Rev.  Walter  H.  Moore, 
afterwards  Dean  of  Quincy. 

"The  eighth  rector  of  St.  Mark's  was  a  young  priest 

24 


ST.  MARK'S  CHURCH 
(Some  early  views) 


from  the  diocese  of  Maine,  the  Rev.  Arthur  Wilde  Little. 
Mr.  Little  had  been  for  seven  years  rector  of  St.  Paul's, 
Portland.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Cathedral  Chapter 
and  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese;  had  rep- 
resented Maine  in  the  General  Convention  of  1886,  and 
was  well  known  as  the  author  of  a  popular  work  entitled 
"Reasons  for  Being  a  Churchman."  His  rectorship  be- 
gan on  All  Saints'  Day,  November,  1,  1888.  He  was  for- 
mally instituted  by  the  Bishop  on  the  18th  of  November, 
being  the  Twenty-fifth  Sunday  after  Trinity.  In  1895  he 
received  a  doctor's  degree  from  Hobart  College.  He  was 
for  many  years  Examining  Chaplain  to  the  Bishop,  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Missions  and  of  the  Standing 
Committee  of  the  Diocese,  and  Lecturer  on  Ecclesiastical 
History  in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary.  Still  later 
he  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Convention  in  1904. 

"Mr.  Little  at  once  began  to  push  forward  the  build- 
ing of  the  new  church.  A  desirable  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Ridge  Avenue  and  Grove  Street  was  bought  and  paid  for. 
A  beautiful  stone  church  of  early  English  type,  designed 
by  the  distinguished  architects,  Holabird  &  Roche,  was 
built.  The  cornerstone  was  laid  by  the  Bishop  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  Sunday  after  Ascension  Day,  May  18, 
1890.  The  first  services  were  held  on  Easter  Day,  March 
29,  1891.  On  the  following  Wednesday,  at  a  high  cele- 
bration of  the  Holy  Eucharist,  at  which  most  of  the  clergy 
of  the  diocese  were  present,  an  office  of  Benediction  was 
said  by  the  Bishop,  the  Rt.  Rev.  William  E.  McLaren, 
D.D.,  D.C.L.,  who  also  preached  the  sermon.  At  Even- 
song the  Rt.  Rev.  George  F.  Seymour,  D.D.  LL.D.,  Bishop 
of  Springfield,  preached.  On  St.  Mark's  Day,  April  25, 
1895,  the  church,  including  the  chapel  of  St.  Mary,  in  the 
north  choir  aisle,  being  entirely  free  from  debt,  was 
solemnly  consecrated  by  the  Bishop  in  a  splendid  and 
memorable  service. 

"This  was  the  last  public  service  at  which  the  ven- 
erable Charles  Comstock,  for  thirty  years  the  Senior 
Warden  and  constant  benefactor  of  the  parish,  was 
present.  He  died  on  the  5th  of  the  following  September, 
in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age. 


"In  1899  a  commodious  rectory  or  parsonage  was 
bought  on  Ridge  Avenue  near  the  church.  A  beautiful 
Rood  Screen,  of  carved  oak,  separating  the  choir  from  the 
nave,  was  placed  in  the  church  in  1899,  as  a  memorial 
to  the  late  Franklin  G.  Beach.  The  church  contains  some 
beautiful  windows  of  the  best  English  stained  glass,  made 
by  Ward  &  Hughes  of  London.  The  great  east  window 
over  the  high  altar,  representing  The  Institution  of  the 
Holy  Eucharist,  is  considered  the  finest  example  of 
stained  glass  in  the  West.  It  is  a  memorial  to  the  late 
Franklin  G.  Beach  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife.  The  windows 
in  the  north  aisle  depict  scenes  from  the  Old  Testament, 
and  those  in  the  south  aisle  from  the  New. 

"In  the  fall  of  1891  a  superb  chime  of  nine  bells  was 
placed  in  the  tower  of  the  church,  along  with  an  auto- 
matic attachment  for  playing  the  beautiful  "Westminster 
changes"   at  the   quarter   hours.     The   following   Latin 
inscription  was  cast  on  the  great  bell : 
A.  M.  D.  G. 
Aedi  Parochiaeque  Sancti 
Marci   Me,   Octo   Cum  Aliis   Cam- 
panis,  Grato  Corde  Dedit 
Amicus  Mense  Septembre, 
MDCCCCI, 
Rdo.  Arturo  W.  Little,  L.H.D., 

Parocho 

Laude  Sono  Domini;  Populum 

Voco  Ad  Ostia  Caeli 

(To  the  greater  glory  of  God.     To  the  church  and 

parish  of  St.  Mark's  a  friend,  out  of  a  grateful  heart, 

gave  me,  along  with  eight  other  bells,  in  the  month  of 

September,  1901,  during  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  Arthur 

W.  Little,  L.H.D.    I  resound  with  the  praise  of  the  Lord : 

I  summon  the  people  to  the  gates  of  heaven.) 

"The  parish  during  1903  erected  a  large  and  beauti- 
ful Guild  Hall  or  Parish  House,  adjoining  the  church,  for 
the  use  of  the  Sunday  School,  and  the  various  guilds  and 
other  charitable  and  social  organizations  of  the  parish. 

"During  the  rectorship  of  Dr.  Little  the  church  has 
enjoyed  a  steady  and  healthy  growth  in  numbers  and 
influence  and  in  all  departments  of  worship  and  work, 
especially  in  the  cause  of  missions  and  charities.    In  the 


seventeen  years  of  his  rectorship  he  has  presented  five 
hundred  and  ten  candidates  for  Confirmation. 

"In  the  summer  of  1904  a  superb  marble  altar  and 
reredos  were  presented  to  St.  Mark's  by  the  children  of 
the  late  Senior  Warden,  Charles  Comstock,  as  a  memorial 
to  him  and  his  beloved  wife,  and  to  their  daughter-in-law, 
Eleanora  K.  Comstock. 

"The  year  1905  also  witnessed  the  organization  of 
the  Men's  Club  of  St.  Mark's,  a  society  for  literary  and 
social  as  well  as  for  ecclesiastical  purposes.  It  has  had 
one  prosperous  year  under  the  presidency  of  Mr.  William 
B.  Bogert.  The  President  for  1906-7  is  Mr.  William 
S.  Powers.  Any  citizen  of  Evanston  is  eligible  to  mem- 
bership in  this  club. 

"St.  Mark's  parish  numbers  among  its  adherents  some 
of  the  best  citizens  of  Evanston,  and  has  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  the  community. 

"A  few  items  from  the  last  Parochial  Report — May, 
1906 — must  close  this  sketch  : 

Rector,  Dr.  Arthur  W.  Little. 

Church  Wardens:    Messrs.  Henry  S.  Slay- 
maker  and  Edward  H.  Buehler. 

Members,  about  1,500. 

Communicants,  775. 

Value  of  property,  about  $125,000." 


The  following  also  appears  in  Hurd  &  Sheppard's 
History  of  Evanston  under  the  classified  list  of  names: 

Arthur  W.  Little,  D.D..  L.H.D. 


"Arthur  W.  Little,  D.D.,  L.H.D.,  Episcopal  clergy- 
man, Evanston,  111.,  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Octo- 
ber 6,  1856,  the  son  of  William  H.  and  Caroline  F. 
(Cobb)  Little.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Castine,  Maine, 
born  in  1806,  and  a  merchant,  manufacturer  and  banker 
by  occupation,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  Goulds- 
borough,  Maine,  in  1823.  Both  parents  were  people  of 
education,  refinement,  and  personal  piety.  The  son  ac- 
quired his  education  in  Dr.  Pingry's  school  at  Elizabeth, 


N.  J.,  Knox  College,  Galesburg,  111.,  and  the  General 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York.  In  1881  he  was  or- 
dained to  the  priesthood,  and  during  the  same  year  be- 
came rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church  at  Portland,  Maine, 
where  he  remained  until  1888,  when  he  removed  to  Evans- 
ton,  111.,  becoming  rector  of  St.  Mark's  Episcopal  Church 
of  that  city,  where  he  has  remained  ever  since,  at  the  pres- 
ent time  being  the  longest  settled  pastor  connected  with 
any  church  in  Evanston. 

"The  most  notable  work  accomplished  by  Dr.  Little 
since  coming  to  Evanston  has  been  the  erection  of  a  beau- 
tiful church  edifice  and  parish-house  and  the  building  up 
of  a  prosperous  parish,  which  has  been  attended  by  good 
work  for  the  souls  and  bodies  of  his  parishioners  and 
others  who  have  come  under  his  influence.  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Dioceses  of 
both  Maine  and  Chicago,  has  represented  both  in  the 
General  Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  has 
been  a  lecturer  on  Ecclesiastical  History  in  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Chi- 
cago. He  has  also  been,  for  many  years.  Examining 
Chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of  Chicago.  His  fraternal 
relations  are  with  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  Society,  Sons  of 
the  Revolution,  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  the  University 
Club  of  Chicago.    In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

"In  1889  Dr.  Little  was  married,  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  to  Caroline  Ferris,  who  was  a  native  of  Portland, 
Maine.  In  his  religious  and  professional  relations  he  is 
recognized  as  a  hard-working  parish  priest  and  eloquent 
preacher,  a  man  of  wide  culture  and  scholarship  and  a 
successful  writer.  His  principal  publications  are  "Rea- 
sons for  being  a  Churchman,"  which  has  passed  through 
several  editions  and  is  recognized  as  a  standard  authority 
for  the  Anglican  Church;  "The  Times  and  Teaching  of 
John  Wesley" ;  "The  Intellectual  Life  of  the  Priest" ; 
"The  Character  of  Washington" ;  "The  Maintenance  and 
the  Propagation  of  the  Church  Idea."  etc.  Socially  he  is 
genial  and  witty,  and  much  in  demand  as  an  after-dinner 
speaker." 


The  Rev.  Harry  S.  Longley,  who  succeeded  Dr.  Lit- 
tle, was  born  in  Cohoes,  New  York.  He  graduated  from 
the  General  Theological  Seminary  in  1894.  He  was  or- 
dered deacon  that  same  year  by  Bishop  Doane  in  All 
Saints'  Cathedral,  Albany,  New  York,  and  advanced  to 
the  priesthood  in  1895  by  the  same  bishop.  At  the  time 
he  was  called  to  St.  Mark's  he  was  rector  of  Christ 
Church,  Binghamton,  in  the  Diocese  of  Central  New 
York,  which  parish  had  been  in  his  pastoral  care  since 
1899. 

Mr.  Longley  received  the  degree  of  M.A.  from  St. 
Stephen's  College,  Annandale,  New  York,  in  1896,  and 
the  same  college  honored  him  with  the  degree  of  D.D.  in 
1912.  Mr.  Longley  had  been  examining  chaplain  to  the 
Bishop  of  Central  New  York  for  several  years,  and  was 
Dean  of  the  Third  District  of  that  Diocese.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Convention  of  the  Church  held  at 
Richmond,  Virginia,  in  1907.  and  again  at  Cincinnati  in 
October,  1910. 

As  rector  of  St.  Mark's  from  February  1,  1911,  to 
October  23,  1912,  Dr.  Longley  proved  to  be  a  Church- 
man of  much  the  same  school  as  his  predecessor,  and  his 
pastoral  work  was  on  very  similar  lines.  In  addition  to 
his  priestly  ministrations,  his  aim  to  place  the  parish  on 
a  much  better  financial  footing  met  with  marked  success. 
Until  he  came,  no  concerted  effort  had  been  made  in  the 
matter  of  weekly  pledges.  He  introduced  the  Duplex  en- 
velope system  with  such  gratifying  results  that  the  Treas- 
urer was  better  able  to  meet  parochial,  diocesan,  and  gen- 
eral Church  obligations  than  ever  before.  When  he  was 
called  to  be  Suffragan  Bishop  of  Iowa,  keen  regrets  that 
he  must  leave  the  parish  to  which  he  had  so  recently 
come  were  mingled  with  feelings  of  satisfaction  that  he 
had  been  so  signally  honored ;  but  everyone  realized  that 
what  was  loss  to  St.  Mark's  would  be  great  gain  to  Iowa 
and  to  the  American  Church.  He  was  consecrated  in  St. 
Mark's,  October  23,  1912. 

Most  bishops  after  consecration  leave  almost  imme- 
diately for  their  diocesan  work.  We  were  fortunate 
enough  to  have  Bishop  Longley  with  us  for  fully  a  month 

29 


after  his  elevation  to  the  episcopate.  His  last  Sunday  at 
St.  Mark's  was  November  the  seventeenth,  when  he 
baptized  twelve  children  and  one  adult  after  the  Second 
Lesson  at  Evensong,  and  one  child  after  the  service.  On 
the  following  Friday  he  held  his  first  Confirmation  in  our 
church.  The  next  morning  he  left  for  Des  Moines, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

"The  present  rector,  the  Rev.  Arthur  Rogers,  began 
his  ministry  in  Evanston  on  the  1st  of  October,  1913.  He 
was  born  in  Providence,  and  is  a  graduate  of  Brown 
University  and  the  Episcopal  Theological  School  at  Cam- 
bridge. He  received  his  doctor's  degree  from  Brown  in 
1909.  He  is  the  author  of  two  volumes — 'Men  and 
Movements  in  the  English  Church'  and  "Prophecy  and 
Poetry,'  the  Bohlen  Lectures  for  1909.  His  earlier  work 
in  the  ministry  was  as  rector  of  St.  George's,  Central 
Falls,  Rhode  Island,  and  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Trin- 
ity, West  Chester,  Pennsylvania." 

History  of  the  Parish  during  the  Rectorate  of  the 
Rev.  J.  Stew^art  Smith,  Feb.  14,  1876-Jan.  4,  1880. 

(Copied  from  the  second  register  of  the  parish.) 

Note. — The  history  of  the  parish  during  this  rector- 
ate  has  seemed  to  me  in  every  way  too  important  to  be  lost. 
I  have,  therefore,  inserted  here  a  condensed  outline  of  its 
leading  facts.  It  is  true,  however,  that  no  such  outline 
can  do  justice  to  the  work  of  that  period.  My  only  aim 
is  to  put  on  record  enough  to  keep  the  Church  from  for- 
getting how  much  a  parish  may  owe  to  the  faithful  labor 
of  a  true  priest.  F.  W.  Jewell. 


"The  Rev.  James  Stewart  Smith,  B.D.,  Deacon,  for 
some  time  Assistant  to  the  Rev.  Wm.  Edward  McLaren, 
D.D.,  Rector  of  Trinity  Parish,  Cleveland.  Ohio,  and 
after  the  elevation  of  the  latter  to  the  Episcopate,  Min- 
ister in  Charge  of  the  Parish,  was,  on  a  renewed  invita- 
tion of  the  vestry,  called  to  the  rectorate  of  St.  Mark's 
Parish,  Evanston,  111.,  Jan.  30,  1876. 


"The  call  having  been  accepted,  he  was  advanced  to 
the  priesthood  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Wm.  Edward  McLaren, 
D.D.  (being  the  first  priest  ordained  by  him),  in  the 
Cathedral  of  SS.  Peter  and  Paul,  Chicago,  on  Septua- 
gesima  Sunday,  February  13th,  the  Presenters  being  the 
Rev.  James  DeKoven,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  Canon  J.  H. 
Knowles.  On  Monday,  Feb.  14th,  he  entered  upon  his 
labor  as  Rector  of  St.  Mark's  Parish. 

*'The  parish,  according  to  credible  accounts,  was  at 
this  time  in  a  very  low  condition.  It  had  been  disturbed 
by  old  quarrels,  and  was  still  affected  by  the  then  recent 
diocesan  strife  as  to  the  election  of  Dr.  DeKoven  to  the 
Episcopate,  against  whom  it  was  reputed  to  be  especially 
bitter.  Naturally  enough,  under  such  a  stamp  of  Church- 
manship,  the  Holy  Days  were  not  observed,  the  celebra- 
tions numbered  from  thirteen  to  fifteen  per  year  (at  least 
it  so  appears  from  the  Convention  Journals)  ;  the  services 
were  seldom  more  than  Sunday  "Morning  and  Evening 
Prayer ;  and  the  average  attendance  at  the  main  service 
was  commonly  reported  as  being  from  thirty  to  thirty-five 
or  forty  persons. 

"The  building  was  sadly  wanting  in  Churchly  aspect 
and  appointments,  and  greatly  needed  repairing  and 
painting  within  and  without.  The  interior  wood  work 
was  generally  painted  white  ;  the  pillars  in  the  aisle  were 
marbled  in  a  sort  of  oil-cloth  pattern,  and  the  steps  were 
coarsely  oaked.  The  walls  were  whitewashed,  with  paper 
trimmings,  and  those  badly  mildewed.  The  pulpit,  lec- 
tern, prayer-desk  and  altar  were  of  the  baldest  possible 
pattern.  The  latter  was  only  about  four  feet  long,  and  of 
so  nondescript  a  character  that  any  just  sketch  of  it 
would  look  like  a  caricature. 

"Out  of  all  this  crudity  and  unchurchliness  the  parish 
was  brought  by  slow  but  steady  advances,  not  without 
sharp  criticism  and  some  opposition,  but,  to  the  general 
credit  of  the  people,  without  any  organized  attack  on  the 
rector,  or  disturbing  his  relations  to  the  parish. 

"On  Ash  Wednesday,  March  1st,  1876,  the  new  rector 
celebrated  his  first  Holy  Eucharist,  introducing  the  use  of 
the  cassock  and  plain  surplice,  which  were  always  worn 


thereafter.  The  first  Holy  Day  celebration  in  the  parish 
(so  far,  at  least,  as  authentically  known)  occurred  at  10 
o'clock  on  the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  B.  V.  M. 
It  was  censured  by  some  as  "popish,"  but  with  no  spe- 
cial ill  effect.  The  first  Early  Celebration  was  held  at 
7:30  on  Easter  Day,  April  17th,  1876.  There  were  ten 
communicants  present.  Thenceforward  the  Holy  Euchar- 
ist was  regularly  celebrated  at  that  hour  on  all  the  Saints' 
Days,  or  Holy  Days  until  the  weekly  celebration  was  es- 
tablished. The  use  of  a  silver  Altar  Set  (the  private 
property  of  the  rector)  in  place  of  the  clumsy,  old-fash- 
ioned plated  vessels,  was  begun  on  the  17th  of  June, 
though  not  without  some  objections,  on  the  ground  of  its 
being  an  "innovation."  The  weekly  Celebration  was  be- 
gun on  the  First  Sunday  in  Advent,  Dec.  10th.  The  hour 
was  7  :45.  It  had  been  expressly  desired  by  some  eight  or 
ten  of  the  faithful.  It  nevertheless  met  with  considerable 
opposition,  some  portion  of  which  never  died  out.  The 
restored  use,  however,  prevailed.  KneeUng  during  the 
hymn  after  the  Consecration,  and  receiving  the  Bread 
in  the  hands,  instead  of  taking  It  with  the  fingers,  were 
introduced  at  the  Holy  Communion  on  Easter  Day,  and 
without  any  manifest  opposition.  On  the  10th  of  June, 
1877,  the  use  of  the  Mixed  Chalice  was  restored,  and  the 
Ablutions  were  first  publicly  performed.  The  last  occa- 
sioned more  opposition  than  any  other  single  improve- 
ment in  the  parish  use.  The  use  of  wafer  bread,  first  em- 
ployed at  the  Early  Celebration,  July  8th,  caused  no 
trouble.  It  kept  its  place  at  the  early  Celebrations  thence- 
forward. The  white  stole  was  first  worn  at  the  Holy 
Eucharist  on  Easter  Day,  1878.  (It  had  previously  been 
worn  at  the  wedding  of  William  Henry  Cutler  to  Kate 
Laura  Comstock,  Feb.  14th,  1878.)  Lights  were  used  on 
the  altar  at  weddings  (for  the  first  time  at  the  wedding 
of  Richard  H.  Wyman  to  Irene  N.  Lake,  Oct.  16th,  1877), 
at  confirmations  and  requiem  celebrations.  Of  the  latter, 
four  were  held  during  this  rectorate,  the  first — and  the 
first  ever  said  in  the  parish — on  the  16th  of  Dec.  1878,  for 
Mrs.  Richard  H.  Wyman.  The  first,  and  only  wedding 
32 


celebration,  occurred  at  the  wedding  of  the  Rev.  W.  J. 
O'Brien,  Aug.  6th,  1877. 

"In  the  fall  of  1876,  an  elegant,  red  altar-cloth,  the 
gift  of  St.  Luke's  Church,  Germantown,  Pa.,  having  been 
procured  through  the  kind  offices  of  Mrs.  P.  F.  S.  Slay- 
maker,  the  altar  was  enlarged  (to  fit  the  new  cloth),  and 
provided  with  a  re-table.  The  altar  cross  was  a  common 
one  of  wood  which  had  been  covered  with  evergreens  for 
Christmas  use.  In  the  absence  of  anything  better  it  was 
retained  after  the  evergreens  were  removed.  Subse- 
quently a  temporary  reredos  was  erected.  On  the  23rd 
of  September,  1877,  the  church,  having  for  some  time 
been  closed  for  repairs,  was  re-opened.  The  building  had 
been  painted  within  and  without,  the  walls — previously 
only  whitewashed — inclusive.  The  mouldings  about  the 
ceiling  were  put  up.  The  pews  had  been  stained,  and  the 
chancel  decorated  in  a  thorough  Churchly  style.  A  new 
credence,  the  gift  of  Messrs.  Hoyt  and  P.  F.  S.  Slay- 
maker,  had  been  erected.  A  new  and  becoming  altar  and 
a  new  chancel  rail  had  been  constructed.  The  rough 
drafts  of  these  improvements  were  made  by  the  rector, 
but  the  completed  plans  and  the  supervision  of  the  work 
are  more  especially  credited  to  the  generous  assistance  of 
Mr.  Asa  Lyon,  architect.  The  work  was  done  by  Mr. 
Joseph  Hobbs.  The  expense  was  met  by  St.  Mary's 
Chapter  of  the  Guild.  At  this  time  the  choir  was  re- 
moved to  the  chancel  side,  and  the  font  restored  to  its 
proper  place  near  the  door.  During  the  summer  of  1878 
a  new  organ  was  bought,  a  polished-brass  altar  cross  was 
procured  by  the  Sunday  School,  and  new  altar  linen  and  a 
full  set  of  altar  cloths  were  provided. 

"The  Guild,  to  which  reference  has  just  been  made, 
was  organized  in  1877,  in  two  chapters — St.  Mary's  and 
St.  Agnes',  the  latter  composed  of  the  children.  To  allay 
the  opposition  to  the  Guild,  which  grew  up  in  the  old 
"Sewing  Society,"  the  two  were  united  in  1878,  as  St. 
Mark's  Chapter.  The  assistance  rendered  by  the  Guild 
in  various  ways  was  of  great  importance. 

"In  May,  1876,  the  rector  began  regular  services  at 
Christ   Church,   Winnetka — in  the  schoolhouse  at  Wil- 


mettC' — and  occasional  services  at  the  schoolhouse  in 
North  Evanston.  The  work  at  Winnetka  was  continued 
without  interruption  until  1879,  when  it  was  put  in  charge 
of  a  separate  priest.  That  at  Wilmette,  unfortunately 
was  finally  broken  up  by  removals.  That  at  North  Evans- 
ton,  however,  was  continued  until  his  resignation. 

"During  this  rectorate,  the  parish  gave  two  of  its 
members  to  the  holy  work  of  the  sisterhood  of  St.  Mary 
— Miss  Florence  Brown  and  Miss  Ella  Bennet,  who  en- 
tered as  novices  in  the  house  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y. 

''The  statistical  summary  of  the  labors  of  the  Rev. 
J.  S.  Smith  shows  the  Daily  Offices  said  992  times ;  895 
sermons,  lectures  and  instructions  delivered ;  the  Holy 
Eucharist  celebrated  420  times;  101  confessions  heard 
(the  first  Dec.  8th,  1876),  and  about  5,000  parochial  visits 
made.  A  debt  due  the  former  rector  of  between  $300 
and  $400  was  paid  ofif ;  the  church  was  made  free  (Easter, 
1879),  and  the  congregation  increased  to  between  one 
hundred  and  fifty  and  two  hundred. 

"Mr.  Smith  closed  his  rectorship  by  resignation,  Janu- 
ary 4th.  1880.      HIS  WORK  STILL  LIVES." 

Sept.  8,  1881.  Fred'k  S.  Jewell, 


Immediately  follozving  the  above  zve  Und  this  memo- 
randum in  Doctor  Jezvelts  hmidivritlng : 

"May  2nd,  1880,  Rogation  Sunday,  the  Rev.  Fred'k 
S.  Jewell,  Ph.  D.,  priest,  formerly  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, and  some  time  rector  of  St.  James'  parish,  Winsted, 
Connecticut,  came  to  St.  Mark's  as  a  supply.  A  call  to 
the  rectorate  being  immediately  extended  to  him,  was 
accepted  May  5th,  and  approved  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  the 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  Ascension  Day,  May  6th,  on  which 
he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  Cure." 


&ome  prominent  ^arisiiitaners; 


Bishop  Burch 

Charles  Comstock 

Henry  S.  Slaymaker 

Edward  H.  Buehler 

Miss  A.  J.  Comstock 

Miss  Mary  Pearce 

Thomas  I.  Stacev 


Chapter  II 


chapter  tKttJo 

SOME  PROMINENT  PARISHIONERS 

(Past  and  Present) 

Of  those  whom  I  knew  at  St.  Mark's  in  1888  the 
name  of  Charles  Sumner  Burch  is  one  which  comes  most 
readily  to  mind.  As  I  first  remember  the  parish,  Mr. 
Burch  was  one  of  its  best  helpers  as  Sunday  School  super- 
intendent and  lay  reader. 

It  is  a  source  of  pardonable  pride  to  those  of  us 
who  then  knew  him,  to  think  that  in  these  days  he  oc- 
cupies so  high  and  responsible  a  place  in  the  Church.  I 
sometimes  wonder,  with  the  constant  demands  made  upon 
a  bishop  for  public  speaking,  how  much  he  still  retains 
of  that  beautiful  tenor  voice  which  we  remember  he  used 
so  effectively  in  the  choral  service  at  St.  Mark's.  The 
writer  recently  came  across  an  old  copy  of  Faure's  "Cruci- 
fix," arranged  to  "Come  unto  Him  all  ye  that  labour," 
which  Mr.  Burch  and  he  sang  in  place  of  the  ofifertory 
anthem  at  the  Choral  Eucharist. 

Mr.  Burch  was  ordained  to  the  diaconate  in  St. 
Mark's  by  Bishop  McLaren  on  the  Twentieth  Sunday 
after  Trinity,  October  27th,  1895.  After  working  for 
ten  years  as  a  deacon  in  the  Diocese  of  Western  Michigan 
he  was  advanced  to  the  priesthood  by  Bishop  McCormick 
of  that  diocese  in  1905.  He  was  consecrated  as  Sufifragan 
Bishop  of  New  York  on  St.  Matthias'  Day  (February 
24th),  1911. 


In  his  congratulations  to  St.  Marks  parish  on  the 
occasion  of  the  twentieth  anniversary  of  the  opening  of 
the  new  church,  the  bishop  refers  to  the  white  stole  pre- 
sented to  him  by  our  Sunday  School  when  he  was  ordered 
deacon.  Shortly  after  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  Mr. 
Stacey,  in  behalf  of  the  Sunday  School,  asked  the 
privilege  of  "replacing  the  present  stole  with  a  new  one 
when  such  replacement  may  become  necessary."  This 
offer  was  accepted  by  Bishop  Burch  in  a  very  appre- 
ciative letter  to  the  Sunday  School,  in  which  he  states 
that  he  has  "prized  the  original  stole  so  highly  and  taken 
such  good  care  of  it  that  it  is  still  in  very  good  condition 
and  wall  probably  serve  for  some  time  to  come." — Lion 
of  St.  Mark,  July,  ipii. 


Next  to  the  rectors  of  St.  Mark's,  the  personality  of 
one  man  stands  out  pre-eminently  in  the  first  thirty  years 
of  its  history,  i.  e.,  that  of  Mr.  Charles  Comstock,  who 
was  elected  senior  warden  when  the  parish  was  organ- 
ized in  1864  and  retained  the  office  until  his  death  on 
September  5,  1895.  Personally,  I  met  Mr.  Comstock 
very  seldom,  but  no  one  who  reads  St.  Mark's  early 
records  can  fail  to  be  impressed  with  the  importance  and 
controlling  influence  in  parish  matters  of  both  Mr.  Com- 
stock and  his  family.  I  find  frequent  mention  of  his  son, 
Mr.  William  C.  Comstock,  who  is  still  a  communicant  of 
St.  Mark's,  as  giving  valuable  help  in  the  music  of  the 
services.  Of  the  first  senior  warden  of  the  parish  Doctor 
Little  speaks  as  follows: 

"It  would  not  be  correct  to  say  that  without  the  faith 
and  love  and  work  of  Charles  Comstock  there  would  have 
been  no  church  in  Evanston ;  but  of  this  I  am  sure,  that 
if  it  had  not  been  for  him,  the  starting  of  the  church  in 
Evanston  would  have  been  delayed  for  many  years.  Had 
it  not  been  for  him  and  for  his  beneficence,  the  church 
would  have  gone  under  in  its  days  of  weakness  and  fear, 
when  some  who  had  put  their  hands  to  the  plow  looked 
back  because  they  were  not  fit  for  the  Kingdom  of  God. 
St.  Mark's  Church,  our  pride  and  our  joy,  might  not  yet 

.38 


have  been  built,  or  if  built,  would  not  have  been  so  soon 
paid  for  or  consecrated.  Surely,  therefore,  without  dis- 
paragement to  any  who  helped  in  this  great  work,  we 
may  say  that  this  church  owes  more  to  Charles  Com- 
stock  than  to  any  other  man. 

"Mr.  Comstock's  wisdom,  his  business  experience, 
his  knowledge  of  canon  law,  the  might  and  dignity  of 
his  presence  in  our  vestry  meetings  and  in  the  diocesan 
convention,  his  ever-increasing  grasp  of  the  Catholic  idea, 
his  childlike  simplicity,  his  faith,  the  integrity  of  his  con- 
science, the  ripening  spirituality  of  his  declining  years,  all 
endeared  him  to  me,  as  his  priest  and  confessor,  his 
spiritual  director  and  friend,  beyond  what  words  can 
express." 

(These  words  of  Doctor  Little  are  from  a  sermon 
preached  by  him  on  the  occasion  of  the  Benediction 
of  the  Comstock  Memorial  Altar  on  the  morning  of  the 
Twelfth  Sunday  after  Trinity,  August  21,  1^04.  The 
Vext  zms,  "We  have  an  altar."     Hebrews  xiii:  10.) 


In  any  attempt  to  speak  of  Henry  Stephen  Slay- 
maker,  senior  warden  of  St.  Mark's  from  1895  to  1913, 
one  might  very  well  make  use  of  Doctor  Jewell's  words, 
applied  to  the  person  and  work  of  the  Rev.  J.  Stewart 
Smith,  as  being  "too  important  to  be  lost."  Perhaps  I 
cannot  do  better  than  Cjuote  from  my  own  article  given  in 
the  April,  1913,  number  of  our  parish  magazine: 

"A  sketch  of  the  church  life  of  Mr.  Slaymaker,  from 
his  first  connection  with  St.  Mark's  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  would  cover  almost  the  entire  period  of  our  parish 
life,  seeing  that  St.  Mark's  was  organized  in  1864,  while 
Mr.  Slaymaker's  name  appears  on  the  communicant  list 
as  early  as  April,  1870. 

"The  few  who  were  in  touch  with  the  parish  in  those 
days  bear  willing  witness,  with  all  who  have  known  him 
in  more  recent  years,  that  his  first  and  chief  interest  was 
the  Church,  in  whose  divine  origin  he  so  devoutly  be- 
lieved.    It  was  just  because  of  his  implicit  belief  in  the 


Church  as  a  divine  organization  that  he  worked  patiently 
and  unremittingly  in  the  interests  of  St.  Mark's  during 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  For  the  welfare  of  the  parish 
he  spared  no  effort,  whether — as  was  the  case  through  so 
many  of  those  early  years  quietly  busied  in  details,  no 
matter  how  humble  or  insignificant,  which  but  for  his 
constant  thought  would  have  often  gone  undone,  or 
whether  in  later  years  in  the  important  duties  of  his  posi- 
tion as  senior  warden,  his  one  aim  and  desire  lay  in  the 
constant  furthering  of  the  spiritual  life  of  the  parish 
and  its  material  progress.  His  was  purely  a  work  of  love 
for  Christ  and  His  Church. 

"His  tenure  of  office  as  senior  warden  covered  the 
period  from  1895  to  1913,  but  prior  to  1895  he  was  a 
member  of  the  vestry  for  many  years.  He  worked  under 
no  less  than  seven  rectors  of  St.  Mark's.  In  1911  he 
moved  into  Chicago  to  make  his  home  with  his  son, 
Doctor  S.  R.  Slaymaker,  but,  just  as  when  living  in 
Evanston,  nothing  short  of  severe  illness  ever  kept  him 
away  from  the  services  on  the  Lord's  Day,  particularly 
the  Holy  Eucharist.  Who  are  there  among  us  that  saw 
him,  year  in  and  year  out,  at  the  Early  Eucharist  every 
Sunday  but  are  not  the  better  for  his  example? 

"He  had  not  been  in  his  usual  health  for  some  months 
before  the  end  came.  On  the  day  of  his  death,  Sunday, 
April  6,  1913,  he  occupied  his  customary  place  at  church, 
assisted  in  taking  up  the  offerings  and  looked  better  than 
for  some  weeks  past ;  the  news,  therefore,  of  his  having 
been  suddenly  and  painlessly  taken  from  us,  which 
reached  the  church  immediately  before  Evensong,  came 
as  a  shock  to  everyone.  Yet  all  felt  that  it  was  an  ideal 
ending  to  an  ideal  Christian  life,  for  he  had  but  just 
assisted  at  the  Church's  greatest  service,  which  was  to 
him  a  foretaste  of  Heaven  itself,  and  we  reverently  said 
of  him,  *He  was  not,  for  God  took  him.' 

"All  who  availed  themselves  of  the  privilege  of  at- 
tending the  requiem  celebration  of  the  Holy  Eucharist  on 
the  day  on  which  he  was  laid  to  rest  must  have  been  im- 
pressed with  the  quiet  dignity  and  simplicity  of  it,  and 
withal  of  the  peculiar  fitness  of  such  a  service  in  the  case 

40 


of  so  devout  a  churchman  as  Mr.  Slaymaker.  The  clergy 
present  included  Bishops  Toll  and  Longley,  the  Very  Rev. 
Dean  DeWitt  and  Doctor  F.  J.  Hall  of  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  and  the  Revs.  A.  L.  Murray, 
Luther  Pardee,  and  George  Craig  Stevv^art.  The  burial 
was  at  Rose  Hill.  The  first  part  of  the  service  at  the 
grave  was  taken  by  Bishop  Longley.  The  committal  was 
said  by  Bishop  Toll,  who  also  gave  the  blessing.  A  Chi- 
cago clergyman  wrote  as  follows:  'This  text  has  been 
much  in  my  mind,  "Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous, 
and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his."  '  Another  priest  ex- 
pressed himself  in  these  words :  'He  represents  a  type 
of  churchman  of  whom  we  have,  I  fear,  but  few  today.' 
"The  life  that  Mr.  Slaymaker  lived  among  us  is 
an  inspiration  and  encouragement  to  all.  When  one  con- 
templates such  a  life  he  is  bound  to  admit  that  the  day 
of  saints  is  not  yet  over.  It  is  a  matter  for  regret  that 
though  St.  Mark's  Church  contains  two  memorials  to 
Mr.  Slaymaker,  the  parish  to  which  he  gave  so  much  has 
up  to  the  present  time  done  nothing  to  perpetuate  his 
memory." 


The  name  of  Mr.  Edward  H.  Buehler,  the  present 
senior  warden  of  St.  Mark's,  has  been  closely  associated 
with  the  parish  for  more  than  thirty  years.  Mr.  Buehler 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  vestry,  as  clerk  of  the 
vestry,  treasurer,  junior  warden,  and  since  Mr.  Slay- 
maker passed  on  in  1913  has  filled  the  important  office  of 
senior  warden,  in  addition  to  which  he  is  special  treasurer 
of  missionary  and  extra-parochial  funds.  No  one  of  the 
men  of  St.  Mark's  has  striven  more  wholeheartedly  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  parish.  I  was  first  brought  into 
touch  with  him  when,  as  treasurer,  he  used  to  send  me  the 
monthly  choir  check.  In  his  care  for  the  financial  inter- 
ests of  the  parish  he  never  failed  to  give  me  a  reminder 
if  my  account  ran  ever  so  slightly  over  the  allotted  $125 
per  month.  He  will  forgive  me,  I'm  sure,  for  saying  so, 
but  his  reminders  used  to  affect  me  otherwise  than  he 
intended,  and  I  used  to  wish  that  he  would  read,  mark, 
learn,  and  inwardly  digest  the  latter  half  of  the  twenty- 


fourth  verse  of  the  eleventh  chapter  of  the  Book  of 
Proverbs.  If  every  parish  were  fortunate  enough  to  se- 
cure as  senior  wardens  such  men  as  have  held  that  ofifice 
at  St.  Mark's,  Evanston,  its  members  would  have  one 
more  blessing  for  which  to  be  thankful.  In  one  respect 
Mr.  Buehler  is  greatly  like  his  predecessor.  I  have  in 
mind  the  early  Eucharist,  in  which,  Sunday  after  Sunday, 
Mr.  Buehler  is  quietly  exercising  an  influence  far  greater 
than  he  dreams  of.  May  he  long  continue  in  his  present 
office ! 


After  allowing  for  the  regrettable  fact  that  in  this 
American  Church  of  ours  the  font  cannot  always  occupy 
its  logical  and  rightful  place  just  within  the  main  en- 
trance, the  one  thing  that  should  immediately  impress  a 
person  upon  stepping  into  our  churches  is,  not  the  pulpit, 
not  the  lectern,  not  the  organ  with  its  gilded  and  often 
gaudily  painted  display  pipes,  but  the  altar.  In  St.  Mark's 
we  have  for  years  been  blessed  with  an  altar  so  beautiful 
and  chaste  in  design  and  workmanship  as  at  once  to  arrest 
the  eye  and  hold  the  attention. 

Those  who  know  St.  Mark's  Church  and  its  altar 
very  naturally  call  to  mind,  when  thinking  of  the  latter, 
the  names  of  two  persons — Miss  A.  J.  Comstock  and  Miss 
Mary  Pearce.  For  years  before  I  knew  the  parish  Miss 
Comstock  devoted  much  of  her  time  and  the  same  loving 
care  to  the  altar  and  sanctuary  that  she  does  today,  a 
work  in  which  she  has  had  for  more  than  thirty  years  the 
assistance  of  Miss  Pearce.  I  don't  suppose  that  the 
average  person  who  attends  St.  Mark's  gives  two  thoughts 
to  the  hours  spent  in  preparing  the  altar  for  the  services 
as  they  look  upon  it.  Only  those  like  the  rector  and 
myself  realize  the  amount  of  time  and  care  necessary. 
But,  while  everyone  may  not  stop  to  think  of  the  time 
and  labor  involved,  all  appreciate  the  results  as  we  have 
seen  them  Sunday  after  Sunday.  I  can  think  of  no  one 
who  better  loves  to  engage  in  the  care  of  the  altar  vest- 
ments and  vessels  than  Miss  Comstock,  nor  do  I  know  of 
altar  flowers  more  gracefully  arranged  than  those  which 
we  have  been  accustomed  to  for  years  as  a  result  of  the 


THE  COMSTOCK  MEMORIAL  ALTAR 


deft  hand  of  ]\Hss  Pearce.  I  have  often,  when  looking 
upon  our  altar  with  its  floral  decorations  as  prepared  for 
one  of  the  greater  festivals,  experienced  the  same  sort  of 
feeling  as  when  looking  upon  some  beautiful  canvas.  One 
has  no  desire  to  change  the  picture  in  the  minutest  detail. 
The  arrangement  of  flowers,  especially  altar  flowers,  is  an 
art  and  a  gift.  And  Miss  Pearce  possesses  both  the  art 
and  the  gift  to  a  remarkable  degree.  May  the  chief  care 
of  the  altar  at  St.  ]\Iark's  remain  with  ]\Iiss  Comstock  and 
Miss  Pearce  for  many  years  to  come. 


In  touching  upon  a  few  of  the  more  important  per- 
sonalities connected  with  St.  Afark's  parish,  I  have  been 
limited,  not  from  choice  so  much  as  compulsion.  In  the 
first  place  my  time  is  limited,  seeing  that  I  must  leave 
within  a  few  weeks  for  some  port  in  England,  and  in  the 
second  place  the  chief  difficulty  would  be  to  know  just 
where  to  draw  the  line.  For,  if  one  must  come  to  actual 
names,  who  realizes  better  than  myself  the  need  of  men- 
tioning most  of  those  who  have  in  turn  served  as  members 
of  the  vestry?  Who  appreciates  more  than  I  do  the  real 
merit  of  the  many  presidents  of  the  Woman's  Guild  or  of 
the  Men's  Club?  Who  has  a  greater  admiration  than  I 
have  for  the  work  of  Mrs.  P.  C.  Lutkin  in  the  Mothers' 
Guild,  or  of  Mrs.  J.  K.  Lewis  and  Mrs.  Harry  Wells  in 
the  Junior  Auxiliary?  The  few  to  whom  I  have  made 
special  reference  have,  with  the  single  exception  of  Bishop 
Burch,  been  so  long  and  prominently  connected  with  St. 
Mark's  that  my  reason  for  so  doing  is,  I  think,  obvious 
enough.  Equally  obvious  is  it  that  I  should  refer  to  just 
one  other  person — Mr.  Thomas  I.  Stacey ;  not  because  he 
has  been  one  of  my  best  friends  and  my  closest  com- 
panion throughout  the  many  years  that  I  have  spent  at 
St.  Mark's,  but  from  the  position  he  has  won  and  is 
winning  for  himself  in  the  parish. 

Air.  Stacey  may  claim  this  distinction  over  those  to 
whom  I  have  previously  referred,  i.  e.,  he  may  be  said  to 
have  been  born  and  brought  up  in  St.  Mark's,  since  he 
has  known  no  other  parish.     From  the  day  on  which  we 


first  met,  he  has  been  ready  at  all  times  to  serve  the  parish 
and  the  Church  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability.  When,  long 
years  ago,  through  press  of  so  many  other  duties,  I  re- 
signed the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School,  I  remember  Doctor  Little  asking  what  I  thought 
of  Mr.  Stacey  for  the  office.  My  recollections  are  that 
Doctor  Little  wondered  whether  Mr.  Stacey  would  be 
equal  to  the  requirements  of  Sunday  School  Superintend- 
ent. If  the  Doctor  had  any  serious  misgivings  they  were 
quickly  and  permanently  laid  aside,  and  I  know  that  as 
long  as  he  lived  he  had  unbounded  admiration  for  and 
confidence  in  Mr.  Stacey.  I  know  further  that  Mr. 
Stacey  was  among  those  to  whom  Doctor  Little  ever 
looked  for  real  help  and  comfort.  His  natural  character- 
istics for  thoroughness  in  work  and  system  appealed  at 
once  to  Doctor  Longley  as  something  which  both  held  in 
common.  The  present  rector  of  St.  Mark's  takes  a  special 
pride  in  the  Sunday  School  as  the  direct  result  of  Mr. 
Stacey's  conscientious  and  untiring  work. 

I  have  been  moved  to  allude  to  Mr.  Stacey  because  I 
know  of  no  finer  illustration  of  the  force  of  precept  so  con- 
sistently followed  up  by  example.  It  is  the  one  great  need 
of  the  man  who  occupies  the  position  of  a  Sunday  School 
Superintendent,  and  St.  Mark's  is  wonderfully  blessed  in 
having  such  a  man  at  the  head  of  its  Sunday  School,  for 
it  should  greatly  influence  the  future.  Mr.  Stacey's  work 
at  St.  Mark's  and  in  the  Sunday  School  work  of  the 
diocese  generally  is  making  itself  felt  more  and  more.  I 
trust  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when,  the  war  being  over, 
his  greatest  desire  may  be  realized  and  he  may  see  ade- 
quate provision  made  for  St.  Mark's  Sunday  School  in 
such  wise  that  the  discouraging  drawbacks  and  limitations 
under  which  he  has  worked  for  so  many  years  with  such 
untiring  perseverance  may  only  remain  as  memories.  If 
I  were  asked  to  name  one  of  the  greatest  assets  of  St. 
Mark's  parish  at  the  present  time,  I  should  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  singling  out  Mr.  Thomas  I.  Stacey,  as  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  School. 


Special  g>erbices;  anb  ©ccasiong 


Laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  St. 
Mark's  Church  and  Dr.  Little's  sermon  on 
that  occasion. 

First  service  in  the  new  St.  Mark's 
Church. 

Formal  dedication  of  the  new  church. 

"Deconsecration"  of  the  old  church. 

Choral  Festival. 

Requiem  and  Memorial  Services  for  Dr. 
Little  with  Archdeacon  Toll's  Sermon. 

Twentieth  Anniversary  of  the  new  St. 
Mark's  Church. 

Consecration  of  Bishop  Longley. 

The  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  St.  Mark's 
Parish,  with  Dr.  Edward  M.  Jefferys'  Sermon. 

The  Choirmaster's  Ordination. 


Chapter  III 


Cfjapter  tE^fjree 

LAYING   OF  THE   CORNERSTONE  OF 
ST.  MARK'S  CHURCH 

(May  18,  1890) 

The  occasion  of  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  new 
St.  Mark's  Church — an  event  so  long  and  hopefully 
looked  forward  to — took  place  on  the  afternoon  of  May 
18,  1890,  being  the  Sunday  after  Ascension  Day.  Out- 
door services  depend  so  largely  on  favorable  weather  con- 
ditions for  their  success,  that  it  is  gratifying  to  record  that 
the  day,  in  this  respect,  was  ideal,  and  contributed  no 
little  to  the  general  effect. 

The  choir,  visiting  clergy,  rector  and  bishop  as- 
sembled in  the  small  frame  church  on  Davis  Street,  near 
Ridge  Avenue,  where,  forming  in  procession  headed  by 
the  crucifer,  they  proceeded  along  Ridge  Avenue  to  the 
site  of  the  new  church  at  Grove  Street,  and  filed  through 
an  immense  concourse  of  people  to  their  allotted  places 
on  a  temporary  platform. 

(Ridge  Avenue,  in  these  days  of  cement  sidewalks,  is 
very  different  from  the  old  days  when  their  make-up, 
chiefly  of  wood,  necessitated  frequent  repairs.  There  was 
in  May,  1890,  a  particularly  faulty  stretch  between  Davis 
and  Grove  Streets,  with  not  a  few  loose  planks  and  an 
occasional  hole.  The  step  from  the  sublime  to  the  ridicu- 
lous has  always  impressed  me  as  so  easy  in  Church  func- 
tions that  I  had  serious  misgivings  as  to  how  our  cross- 


bearer,  "Dannie/'  a  very  small  boy  for  that  office,  would 
steer  his  way  without  an  illustration  of  the  very  thing  I 
was  most  anxious  to  avoid.  My  fears  proved  needless, 
however,  for  the  procession  moved  throughout  in  dignified 
order.) 

In  the  course  of  a  special  service,  the  corner-stone 
was  "well  and  truly  laid"  by  Bishop  McLaren,  who  after- 
wards spoke  in  praise  of  the  work  of  the  parish,  and  in 
particular  of  the  auspicious  event  which  had  called  his 
hearers  together.  He  counselled  that  St.  Mark's  be  kept 
as  in  the  past,  a  church  for  rich  and  poor  alike,  and  closed 
with  a  review  of  the  growth  of  the  Church  in  America. 

Among  the  clergy  present  was  the  Rev.  S.  C.  Edsall, 
the  late  Bishop  of  Minnesota,  also  Dr.  Gold  of  the  West- 
ern Theological  Seminary,  and  the  Rev.  Daniel  F.  Smith 
of  St.  Luke's,  South  Evanston  (as  the  southern  portion 
of  the  then  milage  of  Evanston  was  called). 

The  corner-stone  contained  a  copy  of  the  Prayer 
Book,  the  Church  Hymnal,  and  Little's  "Reasons  for 
Being  a  Churchman,"  as  well  as  the  names  of  the  bishop, 
rector,  vestry,  and  choir,  also  a  number  of  Church,  local 
and  Chicago  papers,  and  a  set  of  United  States  coins. 

After  an  address  by  the  rector,  which  is  given  below, 
and  one  by  Mr.  George  E.  Gooch  (as  representing  the 
laity  of  the  parish)  the  service  closed  with  the  singing  of 
the  hymn,  "The  Church's  One  Foundation,"  and  the 
Blessing,  pronounced  by  Bishop  McLaren,  after  which 
the  congregation  quietly  dispersed,  while  choir  and  clergy 
returned  in  procession  to  the  old  church. 


Follozving  is  the  full  text  of  the  address — The  Head 
of  the  Corner — delivered  by  the  Rev.  Arthur  W.  Little  at 
the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  nezv  church: 

"Reverend  Father  in  God,  Brother  Churchmen  and 
Fellow  Citizens :  When  saintly  Bishop  Wulfstan  of  our 
Mother  Church  of  England,  in  the  eleventh  century  laid 
the  foundations  of  the  glorious  cathedral  of  Worcester,  he 
wept  as  he  said  to  one  of  his  clergy :  'It  is  a  miserable 
thing,  if  we  neglect  the  souls  of  men  and  pile  together 
stones.'    We  have  begun  to  build  a  stately  and  beautiful 

48 


stone  church  to  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  benefit  of 
this  community.  To  complete  this  work,  we  need  to  deny 
our  bodies,  but  not  to  neglect  our  souls.  Indeed  this  work 
is  God's  work,  and  the  better  we  are,  the  better  will  we 
build,  and  the  better  we  build,  the  better  shall  we  become. 
It  is  conceivable  that  the  leaders  of  the  Church — her 
prelates  and  her  priests — might  under  certain  circum- 
stances so  devote  themselves  to  Church  architecture  as  to 
neglect  the  souls  of  men,  but  such  is  not  our  case.  Yonder 
little  wooden  church  on  Davis  Street  has  long  been  in- 
adequate to  the  needs  of  the  parish  and  beneath  the  dig- 
nity of  a  Temple  of  God.  It  is  therefore  to  save  souls, 
not  to  neglect  them,  that  we  rear  this  church,  to  the  honor 
of  the  ever-blessed  and  undivided  Trinity.  St.  Mark's 
parish  was  organized  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1864.  In 
the  following  year  the  church  was  free  from  debt,  and  on 
the  15th  of  September,  1865,  consecrated  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Doctor  Whitehouse,  the  illustrious  predecessor  of  our 
beloved  bishop — consecrated  to  the  worship  of  Almighty 
God  under  the  title  and  patronage  of  the  Evangelist  St. 
Mark.  It  is  a  little  church,  but  it  represents  the  faith, 
and  the  love,  and  the  self-sacrifice  of  deceased  men.  It 
is  a  little  church,  but  it  was  great  for  the  feeble  flock  that 
built  it.  It  is  a  little  church,  but  there  are  hearts  that 
love  it  for  the  hallowed  and  precious  associations  of  a 
generation.  And  yet  these  very  ones  whose  tears  start 
at  the  thought  of  leaving  it  have  been  foremost  in  plan- 
ning, and  are  foremost  in  building  this  second  house 
whose  glory  shall  be  greater  than  the  first. 

"And  what  kind  of  a  church,  my  brethren,  do  we 
want  and  propose  to  build?  We  want,  and  we  propose  to 
build  a  church — a  church  Catholic  and  correct.  Not  an 
edifice  at  which  the  stranger  will  point  and  say,  'What 
building  is  this?'  Not  an  edifice  which  will  be  mistaken 
for  a  club  house,  a  lecture  hall,  an  auditorium,  or  used 
for  purposes  sacred  and  profane,  but  the  holy  temple  of 
a  worshipping  congregation,  'none  other  than  the  house 
of  God  and  the  very  gate  of  heaven,'  a  church  which  will 
not  only  be  an  honor  to  this  avenue  and  the  pride  of  the 
village,  but  which  from  afar  will  proclaim  itself  a 
church — 

49 


"  'In  beauty  built  and  might 
For  apostolic  service 
And  high  liturgic  rite.' 

"The  exterior  will  be  simple,  dignified,  grand.  With- 
in there  will  be  a  noble  nave,  with  north  and  south  aisles, 
and  high  clerestory,  supported  by  stately  columns  and 
graceful  arch.  There  will  be  a  deep  choir  or  chancel,  with 
its  lofty  Rood-screen  surmounted  with  the  symbol  of  our 
redemption — a  chancel  large  enough  to  contain  a  goodly 
number  of  white-robed  choristers,  who  will  lead  the  de- 
votions of  the  people,  singing  with  the  spirit  and  with  the 
understanding  also.  And  last  of  all,  within  the  veil,  there 
will  be  the  sanctuary  of  the  Holy  of  Holies,  with  its  High 
Altar  of  Sacrifice,  the  Table  of  the  Lord,  the  Throne  of 
the  Divine  Presence,  the  Source  of  His  Sacramental 
Grace.  While  over  all,  from  the  lofty  clerestory  windows 
will  stream  in  the  light  of  heaven,  bidding  us  look  up- 
ward and  see  the  smiles  of  our  Father's  face.  O  what  a 
church  this  will  be !  And  how  earnestly  we  ought  to 
work  and  pray  for  its  completion  ! 

"Finally,  dear  brethren,  we  are  building  for  the  fu- 
ture a  church  which  will  stand  for  ages  and  ages.  The 
years  will  roll  by,  you  and  I  shall  rest  from  our  labors, 
but  this  work  will  endure.  Our  very  names  will  be  for- 
gotten, but  within  these  hallowed  walls  the  glorious  gos- 
pel of  the  Son  of  God  shall  still  be  preached  to  the  poor 
and  to  the  rich,  to  the  young  and  to  the  old.  Here  unto 
Incarnate  God  'shall  be  given  of  the  gold  of  Arabia, 
prayer  shall  be  made  ever  unto  Him,  and  daily  shall  He 
be  praised.'  Here  the  little  ones  born  into  this  world  of 
sin  shall,  at  the  font  of  regeneration,  be  born  anew  into 
the  family  of  God,  and  in  due  time  be  confirmed  with  the 
grace  of  His  Holy  Spirit.  Here  the  penitent  shall  be 
absolved,  and  the  faithful  be  nourished  with  the  'Bread 
which  came  down  from  heaven.'  Here  the  Church's 
blessing  shall  unite  those  who  love  in  the  Lord.  And 
here  for  us  and  for  our  children,  one  by  one,  shall  be 
chanted  the  solemn  Office  of  the  Dead  as  we  rise  from 
the  Church  on  earth  to  the  Church  in  the  Paradise  of  God. 

.'■)0 


O,  it  is  a  glorious  and  an  enduring  work !  Let  us  do  our 
part.  'Let  us  rise  up  and  build.'  And  may  God  prosper 
the  work  of  our  hands  upon  us.  Yea,  may  He  prosper 
our  handiwork." 

FIRST  SERVICES  IN  ST.  MARK'S  CHURCH 
(Easter  Day,  March  29,  1891) 

From  the  day  on  which  the  corner-stone  was  laid, 
both  pastor  and  people  noted  with  increasing  interest  and 
pleasure  how  the  building  grew  apace  under  the  work- 
men's hands  until,  as  completed  on  Easter  Day,  1891,  the 
edifice  stood  forth  in  its  present  graceful  proportions. 

As  is  not  infrequently  the  case,  the  work  of  com- 
pleting the  new  church  had  to  be  hurried  up  to  the  very 
last  minute,  and  to  those  who  were  in  the  church  on 
Easter  Eve.  1891,  when  the  final  choir  rehearsal  was 
interfered  with  so  much  by  the  noise  of  workmen's  ham- 
mers and  planes,  the  prospect  did  not  appear  encour- 
aging for  the  opening  services  on  the  day  following.  It 
was  well  on  towards  midnight  ere  the  Altar  Guild  could 
set  about  its  work,  yet  in  the  tasteful  arrangement  of  the 
altar  and  the  orderly  appearance  of  the  church  at  the 
early  Eucharist  the  next  morning,  the  bustle,  confusion 
and  disorder  of  the  previous  evening  were  forgotten  in 
the  prevailing  restfulness,  and  it  was  hard  to  think  that 
they  had  existed  so  recently. 

The  Evanston  Press  of  April  4,  1891,  wrote  of  the 
new  church  as  follows :  "The  completion  of  St.  Mark's 
Episcopal  Church  in  this  village  is  a  matter  of  sincere 
congratulation  to  the  parish  and  to  the  public  generally, 
in  that  it  provides  not  only  a  beautiful,  but  commodious 
edifice,  while  the  village  is  to  be  congratulated  in  the 
addition  to  its  public  buildings  of  an  ornament  worthy  of 
its  pride.  The  edifice  may  be  justly  characterized  as  com- 
bining the  elements  of  strength,  dignity  and  grace.  With- 
in, a  stately  gothic  order  prevails,  with  nave,  aisles  and 
clerestory.  The  architects,  Messrs.  Holabird  and  Roche, 
are  to  be  congratulated  upon  the  successful  completion 
of  their  plans.  The  church  has  been  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $40,000."     The  order  of  services  was  announced 


as  follows:  Holy  Eucharist,  7:30;  High  Celebration,  11 
o'clock,  and  Evensong,  7:30.  At  the  11  o'clock  Eucharist 
Dr.  Little  was  the  Celebrant  and  preacher.  In  the  after- 
noon a  special  service  was  held,  when  the  Evanston  Com- 
mandery  No.  58,  Knights  Templar,  visited  the  new 
church  and  was  addressed  by  Archdeacon  Edwin  Bishop. 
At  the  conclusion  of  his  address,  the  archdeacon,  on  be- 
half of  the  Knights,  presented  the  fine  eagle  lectern 
which  has  become  so  familiar  a  feature  of  the  interior  of 
our  church. 


FORMAL  OPENING  AND  BENEDICTION  OF 
THE  NEW  CHURCH 

(Wednesday,  April  1,  1891) 

The  formal  opening  ceremonies  and  Benediction  of 
the  new  edifice  took  place  the  following  Wednesday.  The 
Rt.  Rev.  William  E.  McLaren  was  the  Celebrant  at  the 
High  Celebration  and  preached  an  able  sermon  from 
Habakkuk  H.  20,  on  "Worship  and  the  proper  use  of 
the  Church."  He  also  blessed  and  dedicated  the  building 
to  the  glory  of  God  and  in  honor  of  St.  Mark,  and  the 
chapel  in  honor  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

Doctor  Little  delivered  a  brief  address  of  thanks  to 
parish  and  people,  to  whose  labors  and  generosity  the 
building  of  the  church  was  due.  He  especially  thanked 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  E.  Hill  for  the  gift  of  the  altar  rail, 
given  in  memory  of  their  son,  William  C.  Hill ;  to  the 
Knights  Templar  for  the  lectern ;  to  the  choir  for  their 
gift  of  the  Altar  Cross,  Eucharistic  and  Vesper  lights; 
to  the  girls  of  Queen  Bertha's  Guild  for  their  ofifering  the 
Altar  of  the  Lady  Chapel ;  to  the  ladies  of  St.  Margaret's 
Guild  for  furnishing  the  pews ;  to  the  Woman's  Guild  for 
a  gift  of  $3,000;  to  Mr.  Joseph  Hobbs  for  his  generous 
work  in  the  painting;  to  Messrs.  Holabird  and  Roche, 
the  architects,  for  their  voluntary  services — and  to  Mr. 
Charles  Comstock,  the  senior  warden,  to  whose  efiforts, 
more  than  any  other  one  thing,  were  due  the  erection  of 
their  beautiful  edifice. 

A  list  of  the  clergy  present  at  the  service  included: 

The  Rt.  Rev.  William  Edward  McLaren,  Bishop  of 

52 


Chicago ;  the  Rt.  Rev.  George  Franklin  Seymour,  Bishop 
of  Springfield;  Rev.  Clinton  Locke,  Rev.  Canon  Wright, 
Rev.  Canon  Knowles,  the  Ven.  Archdeacon  Edwin 
Bishop,  the  Revs.  D.  F.  Smith,  Joseph  Rushton,  Luther 
Pardee,  Edward  A.  Larrabee,  R.  R.  Upjohn,  Samuel  C. 
Edsall,  J.  Stewart-Smith,  Henry  G.  Perry,  C.  R.  Critten- 
ton,  P.  N.  Hickman,  Morton  Stone,  J.  M.  Clarke,  Walter 
Delafield,  George  B.  Pratt,  T.  N.  Morrison,  J.  W.  Elliott, 
H.  Judd,  B.  F.  Matrau,  J.  M.  McGrath,  Colin  C.  Tate,  Jr., 
Cory  Thomas,  J.  E.  Thompson,  C.  N.  Moller,  C.  H. 
Lemon,  M.  Throop,  Jr.,  B.  F.  Fleetwood,  H.  C.  Granger, 
C.  C.  Camp,  J.  F.  Hill,  and  John  H.  Parsons.  Among  the 
students  from  the  Western  Theological  College  who  at- 
tended was  Mr.  Frederic  W.  Keator,  afterwards  the  first 
priest  of  the  Church  of  the  Atonement,  Edgewater,  now 
the  Bishop  of  Olympia.  The  list  of  the  clergy  includes 
the  names  of  the  present  bishops  of  Minnesota*  and 
Iowa. 

During  the  afternoon  a  largely  attended  parish  recep- 
tion was  held  at  the  Evanston  Club,  in  honor  of  the  com- 
pletion of  the  new  church. 

At  Evensong  the  sermon  was  preached  by  that  fine 
old  churchman,  Bishop  Seymour,  of  Springfield,  on  the 
text,  "Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  today  and  for- 
ever." The  Evanston  Press  records  that  "Bishop  Sey- 
mour held  his  hearers  spellbound  for  more  than  an  hour."' 


On  the  afternoon  of  the  day  on  which  the  new  St. 
Mark's  was  formally  dedicated.  Bishop  McLaren  visited 
the  old  church  on  Davis  Street  and  in  the  presence  of 
several  of  the  clergy  officially  declared  the  consecration 
and  setting  apart  of  the  building  to  the  worship  of  Al- 
mighty God  to  be  "hereby  lifted  and  removed." 

Shortly  afterwards,  the  Chicago  Evening  Journal 
published  a  mischievous  article  which  included  the  fol- 
lowing: "The  discovery  has  just  been  made  that,  on  the 
day  on  which  the  new  St.  Mark's  was  consecrated  (by 
which  the  Journal  meant  dedicated)  Bishop  McLaren  and 
several  other  Episcopal  ministers  visited  the  old  church, 


Bishop  Edsall. 

53 


unknown  to  the  purchaser,  and,  it  is  said,  actually  decon- 
secrated it." 

The  use  of  the  old  church  had  been  granted  by  the 
purchaser,  Mr.  Parkhurst,  to  the  Methodists  who  occu- 
pied it  until  their  new  building,  afterwards  known  as  the 
Emmanuel  Methodist  Church  and  now  in  possession  of 
the  Swedish  Methodists,  was  ready. 

Of  course  the  Journal's  article  stirred  up  a  regret- 
table amount  of  unfriendly  feeling  and  criticism.  The 
most  absurd  and  extravagant  stories  were  circulated,  tell- 
ing what  the  bishop  did  at  this  service  of  "deconsecra- 
tion," and  were  Ijelieved  by  many  persons  without 
troubling  to  get  at  the  real  truth  of  the  matter.  The 
members  of  the  new  Methodist  congregation  were  dis- 
turbed and  many  of  them  exasperated.  Dr.  Little  was  the 
wrong  man  to  hear  of  erroneous  impressions  floating 
around  without  making  an  effort  to  correct  and  allay 
them.  He  wrote  to  the  Evanston  Index  and  in  the  course 
of  his  letter  said  : 

"The  writer  to  the  Journal  alleges  that  the  act  of  the 
Bishop  was  dishonorable,  unbrotherly,  unhandsome,  a 
filching  of  the  consecration,  a  violation  of  fair  dealing, 
contemptuous  treatment,  mean,  clandestine,  and  a  be- 
trayal. 

"So  much  for  this  chaste  anonymous  romance — now 
for  facts : 

"The  trustees  of  the  old  St.  Mark's  Church  sold  the 
property  to  Mr.  J.  J.  Parkhurst  personally,  and  not  in 
any  sense  to  the  new  Methodist  congregation — although 
the  anonymous  writer  says  that  the  Methodists  had  prac- 
tically bought  it  and  that  one  reason  for  their  doing  so 
was  that  it  was  'already  nicely  consecrated.'  (  !)  This  is 
untrue,  but  very  funny.  Well,  we  sold  the  old  church  to 
our  neighbor,  Mr.  Parkhurst,  to  whom  we  have  often 
been  indebted  for  friendly  courtesies  which  the  rector, 
for  one,  gratefully  appreciates.  What  use  Mr.  Park- 
hurst proposes  to  make  of  the  sacred  edifice  has  never 
been  known.  Some  say  it  will  be  torn  down,  others  that 
it  will  be  moved  away  and  turned  into  a  produce  store 
or  a  machine  shop.    The  fact  that  the  generous  purchaser 


chooses  to  allow  the  Methodists  to  use  the  old  church  for 
a  few  months  as  a  place  of  worship  has  no  bearing  on 
the  general  question. 

"The  so-called  'deconsecration'  took  place,  not  after 
the  sale,  as  the  writer  implies,  but  while  the  church  was 
still  an  Anglican  church,  still  in  the  legal  possession  of 
the  rector,  churchwardens  and  vestrymen  of  St.  Mark's. 
And  what,  after  all,  was  this  ceremony? — this  dreadful 
orgy  which  I  am  told  has  'hurt'  and  'exasperated'  my  good 
Methodist  brethren?  From  the  description  one  would 
think  that  the  venerable  prelate  and  his  priests  had  played 
'the  Abbot  of  Unreason.' 

"Let  me,  as  an  eye-witness,  describe  the  ceremony: 
The  bishop,  surrounded  by  his  clergy,  stood  with  un- 
covered head,  and  with  solemn  voice  said  : 

"  'Whereas,  The  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  John  Whitehouse, 
D.  D.,  by  divine  permission  bishop  of  this  diocese,  did  by 
virtue  of  his  office  consecrate  and  set  apart  this  building 
to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  according  to  the  canons, 
rites  and  uses  exclusively  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America ;  and, 

"  'Whereas,  the  pious  generosity  of  this  parish  has 
reared  a  new  and  finer  temple  to  take  the  place  of  this, 

"  'Therefore,  I,  William  Edward  McLaren,  by  di- 
vine permission  bishop  of  Chicago  and  successor  to  the 
said  Bishop  Whitehouse,  do  now  officially  declare  that 
the  said  consecration  and  setting  apart  of  this  building 
to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God  according  to  the  canons, 
rites,  and  uses  exclusively  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  is  hereby  lifted, 
and  removed.  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son.  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Amen.' 

"That  is  all. 

"As  the  bishop  himself  explained  it  to  me,  the  lifting 
of  the  consecration  simply  amounts  to  this:  In  accord- 
ance with  our  canon  law,' 'the  church  building  belonging 
to  any  parish  or  mission  may  be  opened  for  all  services, 
rites,  ceremonies,  or  other  purposes,  authorized  or  ap- 
proved of,  either  by  the  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  or  the 
Church  in  this  diocese,  represented  by  the  ecclesiastical 

55 


authority  thereof,  and  for  none  other  purposes  whatso- 
ever.' (Title  III,  canon  7.)  Such  a  church,  by  the  very 
fact  of  its  consecration,  is  limited  as  to  its  use.  The  old 
church  on  Davis  Street  was  to  pass  for  ever  from  the 
control  of  the  American  Church,  to  become  the  property 
of  an  enterprising  business  man,  a  man  of  the  world,  and 
to  be  secularised.  Hence  the  'deconsecration,'  or  as  the 
bishop  prefers  to  call  it,  'the  lifting  of  the  consecration,' 
simply  removed  that  technical  limitation  of  the  building 
to  distinctively  Anglican  services.  No  slight,  intentional 
or  unintentional,  was  put  upon  the  worship  of  our  Metho- 
dist brethren,  with  whom  we  have  always  dwelt  on  terms 
of  friendship  and  mutual  respect.     *     *     * 

"We  build  our  churches  for  one  distinctive  purpose. 
We  do  not  look  upon  any  honest  worship  as  a  defilement 
of  a  church — and  certainly  not  the  earnest  prayers  and 
hearty  Amens  of  the  Methodists.  *  *  *  Neverthe- 
less, this  one  thing  ought  to  be  remembered,  that  *  *  * 
we  regard  the  altar  where  the  Holy  Sacrifice  is  wont  to 
be  made,  as  'none  other  but  the  house  of  God  and  the 
gate  of  heaven.'  The  consecration  of  one  of  our  churches 
has  a  totally  different  meaning  to  us  from  what  the  'dedi- 
catory services'  of  other  Christians  have  to  them.  Surely 
we  can  indulge  one  another  in  our  honest  convictions. 
The  question  is  not  whether  we  are  right  or  wrong  in  so 
reverencing  our  churches — Doctor  Lorimer  has  informed 
Chicago  that  there  is  no  sacred  place  and  no  holy  day — 
but  to  us  at  least  the  'house  of  God'  is  sacred,  the  one 
spot  left  us  into  which  the  world  does  not  and  shall  not 
intrude." 

CHORAL  FESTIVAL 

Beginning  with  1889,  the  first  choral  festival  of  the 
Chicago  Diocesan  Choir  Association  was  held  in  St. 
James's  Church,  Chicago.  The  thirteen  choirs,  with  a  total 
number  of  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  voices,  that  took 
part,  represented  about  all  of  the  vested  choirs  in  the 
diocese  of  Chicago  in  those  days.  St.  Mark's  was  among 
the  number,  as  also  was  St.  Clement's — which  (in  those 
days)  occupied  a  site  near  State  and  Twentieth  Streets — 

56 


under  Mr.  Lutkin  as  choirmaster  and  organist.  The 
Association  had  at  least  two  objects,  i.  e.,  to  promote  good 
fellowship  and  to  encourage  and  foster  a  desire  for  a  bet- 
ter standard  of  church  music.  One  of  the  greatest  draw- 
backs to  such  a  service  was  the  lack  of  a  church  large 
enough  to  accommodate  the  choirs,  for  though  the  first 
gathering  of  choristers  presented  no  difficulties  in  that 
respect,  it  proved  far  otherwise  later.  Twenty-five  years 
ago  vested  choirs  increased  so  rapidly  that  it  soon  became 
impossible  to  hold  the  choral  festival  in  one  church.  The 
plan  was  then  suggested  and  carried  out  of  a  festival  in 
three  divisions,  i.  e.,  one  on  the  north  side  at  St.  James's, 
a  second  on  the  south  side  at  Grace  and  a  third  at  the 
Cathedral  or  The  Epiphany.  This  arrangement  was  par- 
tially successful,  but  for  one  cause  or  another — mainly, 
I  think,  because  of  inability  to  meet  as  one  body  under 
one  roof — the  Chicago  Diocesan  Choir  Association  fell 
through.  I  ought  to  mention,  perhaps,  that  on  several 
occasions  a  massed  meeting  of  the  vested  choirs  of  the 
diocese  was  held  in  the  Auditorium,  but  it  could  not  take 
the  place  of  a  regular  church  service.  The  setting  did  not 
lend  itself  to  what  one  was  accustomed — the  atmosphere 
was  lacking.  For  a  number  of  years  there  were  no  gath- 
erings of  the  choirs. 

In  1909  I  spoke  to  a  number  of  choirmasters  along 
the  North  Shore  as  to  the  feasibility  of  a  choral  festival  on 
a  very  modest  scale  outside  Chicago.  Such  a  festival  was 
announced  to  be  held  in  St.  Mark's,  Evanston,  on  Novem- 
ber 16th  of  that  year,  and  proved  to  be  quite  a  success. 
The  precentor  for  the  service  was  the  Rev.  Richard  Row- 
ley ;  the  preacher,  the  Rev.  Walter  G.  Blossom ;  the  Mas- 
ters of  Ceremonies,  Messrs.  Thomas  H.  Fullerton  and 
Percy  W.  Freeman.  The  music  was  under  the  choir- 
master of  St.  Mark's  and  the  service  was  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Louis  Norton  Dodge.  Evensong  was  announced 
for  8:10.  At  7:45,  Mr.  Ernest  Sumner,  of  St.  Luke's, 
gave  an  organ  recital  which  included  the  following  num- 
bers:  Grand  Choeur,  en  la  (Salome),  Andante  cantabile 
(Tschaikowsky),  Marche  Triomphale  (Lemmens),  Ber- 
ceuse (Dickinson),  and  Cantilene  (Rogers).    The  choirs 


taking  part  in  the  service  wore  badges  of  distinctive  colors 
and  were  preceded  by  their  respective  crucifers.  The 
procession  entered  the  church  in  the  following  order : 

St.  Luke's,  Evanston  (Gold,  40  voices) — Ernest 
Sumner,  Choirmaster. 

Atonement,  Edge  water  (Red,  25  voices) — Thomas 
H.  Fullerton,  Choirmaster. 

St.  Elisabeth's,  Glencoe  (Blue,  25  voices) — Charles 
L.  Day,  Choirmaster. 

St.  Paul's,  Rogers  Park  (Old  Rose,  40  voices)  — 
Rev.  Richard  Rowley,  Choirmaster. 

St.  Simon's,  Sheridan  Park  (Lavender,  30  voices)  — 
Percy  W.  Fairman,  Choirmaster. 

THE  NATIONAL  FLAG 

St.  Mark's,  Evanston  (Purple,  30  voices) — Robert 
Holmes,  Choirmaster. 

CRUCIFER 

The  Visiting  Clergy. 
The  Rector. 


0v\itx  of  ^erbicc 
Processional  Hymn  397 O  Quanta  Qualia 

O  what  the  joy  and  the  glory  must  be. 

Versicles  and  Responses Tallis 

Psalter,  Psalms  104,  145 Gregorian 

Magnificat  in  G Cruickshank 

Nunc  Dimittis  in  G Cruickshank 

Anthem  after  the  Third  Collect Woodivard 

The  day  Thou  gavest.  Lord,  is  ended. 

Hymn  418 — O  God,  our  help  in  ages  past St.  Anne 

Ascription  Gloria   Cruickshank 

Offertory  Anthem    Gadsby 

O  Lord,  our  Governour. 

Processional  Hymn  516 St.  Gertrude 

Onward,  Christian  Soldiers 

All  of  the  clergy  whose  choirs  took  part  wrote  after- 
wards expressing  appreciation  of  the   festival  and  the 

58 


THE  REV.  ARTHUR  W.  LITTLE,  L.  H.  D. 
Rector,    November    1,    1888-Septernljer    28,    1910 


pleasure  it  had  given  them.  I  recall  that  Dr.  Little  en- 
tertained the  proposal  of  the  service  somewhat  hesitat- 
ingly at  first,  but  when  all  was  over  and  it  proved  so  much 
more  than  he  expected  he  was  greatly  pleased  that  we 
had  been  able  to  have  such  a  service  at  St.  Mark's. 

REQUIEM  AND  MEMORIAL  SERVICES  FOR 
DOCTOR  LITTLE 

The  following  account  of  the  last  services  for  Doctor 
Little  is  given,  in  substance,  as  I  wrote  it  for  the  Memo- 
rial Number  of  the  Lion  of  St.  Mark  for  October,  1910 : 

"Arthur  Wilde  Little,  for  twenty-two  years  the  priest 
and  pastor  of  St.  Mark's,  passed  away  on  Wednesday, 
the  eve  of  Michaelmas  Day,  1910.  On  Friday  afternoon 
the  body,  robed  in  Eucharistic  vestments,  was  laid  in  a 
beautiful  purple  casket,  and  placed  in  the  Lady  Chapel 
with  three  mortuary  lights  on  either  side.  Relays  of  the 
clergy  kept  watch  until  the  hour  for  the  Requiem  on  the 
following  day.  At  the  close  of  Friday  evening's  choir 
rehearsal,  the  men  of  the  choir  visited  the  chapel  in  a 
body,  where  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Edwards — Rector  of  the 
Church  of  Our  Saviour,  Chicago,  and  a  class-mate  of 
Doctor  Little's — conducted  a  brief  service,  after  which 
the  choristers  took  their  last  look  at  him  who  for  so  long 
had  been  their  pastor." 

THE  REQUIEM 

Saturday,  October  1st,  was  a  perfect  autumnal  day 
with  bright  warm  sunshine,  and  yet  with  evidences  on 
every  hand  of  the  change  to  the  "sere  and  yellow  leaf." 
From  early  morning  loving  hands  were  busy  in  and 
around  the  chancel  arranging  the  floral  tributes  which 
sympathetic  parishioners  had  sent  in  profusion.  The  only 
flowers  on  the  altar  were  two  vases  of  Easter  lilies  from 
the  Mothers'  Guild,  while  fastened  on  the  chancel  gates 
were  two  bunches  of  the  same  flowers  from  the  choir. 
A  beautiful  cross  of  white  roses  from  the  vestry  was 
suspended  from  the  central  arch  of  the  Rood-screen,  and 
near  the  entrance  to  the  chancel  was  an  artistic  tribute  of 

59 


orchids  and  foliage  from  the  Sunday  School.  On  the 
casket-  which  had  been  removed  to  the  chancel  soon  after 
ten  o'clock,  was  a  simple  cross  of  purple  and  white  asters 
from  the  Comstock  family. 

At  eleven  o'clock  the  Wardens  and  Vestrymen  of  St. 
Mark's  took  their  places  in  the  front  seats  of  the  Nave. 
St.  Luke's  Vestry  was  also  present  in  a  body.  The  long 
line  of  choir  and  clergy  entered  the  church  by  the  West 
Door  to  Beethoven's  "Funeral  March."  On  reaching  the 
chancel,  the  Twenty-third  Psalm  was  sung  as  an  Introit, 
during  which  the  Celebrant,  Bishop  Anderson,  entered 
with  his  assistants,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Charles  Scadding,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  Oregon,  and  the  Ven.  Archdeacon  Toll. 

The  Requiem  closed  with  Doctor  Little's  favorite 
hymn,  "Praise  to  the  Holiest  in  the  height,"  immediately 
following  which  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Edwards  read  the  Opening 
Sentences  of  the  Burial  Office.  This  was  followed  by 
the  chanting  of  Psalms  Thirty-nine  and  Ninety.  Dr. 
James  S.  Stone  (St.  James's,  Chicago),  read  the  Lesson, 
and  the  Bishop  of  Chicago  the  concluding  Prayers  and 
Committal.  The  service  closed  with  the  Easter  Hymn, 
"Jesus  lives!"  the  procession  leaving  the  church  as  the 
organist  played  Mendelssohn's  "Funeral  March." 

The  active  pall-bearers  were  the  members  of  the 
vestry.  The  honorary  pall-bearers  were  as  follows :  The 
Reverends  T.  B.  Foster  (Emmanuel,  La  Grange),  H.  C. 
Kinney  (Holy  Trinity,  Chicago),  Herman  Page  (St. 
Paul's,  Kenwood),  Luther  Pardee  (St.  EHsabeth's,  Glen- 
coe),  W.  T.  Sumner  (The  Cathedral),  W.  O.  Waters 
(Grace,  Chicago),  P.  C.  Wolcott  (Trinity,  Highland 
Park)  and  C.  H.  Young  (Christ,  Woodlawn). 

Doctor  Little's  body  rested  in  the  chancel  under  the 
care  of  the  Men's  Club  until  Sunday  morning,  when,  at 
an  early  hour  a  private  Eucharist  was  celebrated  for  the 
relatives  and  close  friends  of  the  late  Rector,  after  which 
the  casket  was  quietly  removed  to  the  station  just  before 
the  usual  Seven-thirty  Eucharist  at  which  Doctor  Little 
himself  had  officiated  only  the  previous  Sunday. 

As  a  last  tribute,  the  clergy  of  Chicago  presented  a 
small  but  very  beautiful  silver  crucifix,  which,  before  the 


final  services,  was  placed  in  Doctor  Little's  hands  and 
buried  with  him. 

THE  MEMORIAL  SERVICE 

Sunday,  October  9th,  was  observed  in  specially  com- 
memorating the  late  Rector,  there  being  a  Corporate  Com- 
munion of  the  Parish  at  seven  o'clock,  when  a  goodly 
number  were  present.  Doctor  Little's  brother — the  Rev. 
Edward  Porter  Little — was  the  Celebrant. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  the  procession  of  choir  and  clergy 
entered  the  church  by  the  West  Door,  as  on  the  day  of 
the  funeral.  The  service  opened  with  the  De  Profundis, 
sung  kneeling,  after  which,  the  hymn,  "O  God,  our  help 
in  ages  past,"  was  sung  with  fine  eflfect  by  choir  and 
congregation.  Matins  then  followed  in  the  usual  order, 
the  Ven.  Archdeacon  W.  E.  Toll  delivering  an  address  on 
the  life,  work,  and  influence  of  Doctor  Little.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  that  among  the  many  former  choristers  present  in 
the  chancel  were  Messrs.  William  Ashwell,  S.  Lee  Chap- 
man, and  William  A.  Stacey,  whose  connection  with  the 
choir  antedates  Doctor  Little's  pastorate  at  St.  Mark's — 
as  also  does  that  of  the  choirmaster.  The  service  ended 
with  the  singing  of  Gaul's  "Blessed  are  the  departed" 
and  the  hymn  "Jerusalem  the  Golden." 

THE  MEMORIAL  SERMON 

"I  am  to  speak  to  you  this  morning,  dear  friends  of 
St.  Mark's  Parish,  Evanston,  of  your  late  revered,  and 
much-loved  rector,  and  I  am  constrained  to  say  that  it 
would  have  been  far  more  in  accord  with  my  own  feelings, 
and  I  cannot  but  think  it  would  have  been  more  Satisfac- 
tory to  you,  had  this  tribute  of  afifection — this  witness  of 
his  worth,  been  made  to  you  by  another  tongue  than  mine. 
Had  Bishop  Anderson  been  able  to  have  taken  the  time 
to  put  into  writing  the  thoughts  of  his  own  mind  and  the 
feelings  of  his  own  heart  towards  this  our  brother,  who 
was  so  much  to  all  of  us,  he  would  have  done  so  on  the 
day  of  the  Requiem  Service. 

"That  being  next  to  impossible,  it  has  fallen  to  me, 

61 


of  stammering  lips  and  another  tongue,  to  address  you 
this  morning  on  the  Hfe  and  work,  in  your  midst,  of  your 
late  pastor. 

"Doctor  Little  came  of  that  old,  good  and  true  New 
England  stock,  the  best  of  the  Saxon  type  that  has  come 
to  these  shores  from  the  peoples  of  all  nations.  He  was 
born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  October  6,  1856,  but  early 
in  life  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  live  and  grow  up 
on  the  broad  prairies  of  Illinois  and  share  in  the  larger 
life  found  in  this  Middle  West.  Here  he  pursued  with 
vigor  and  deepest  interest  his  academic  studies,  his  Chris- 
tian culture  in  the  meantime  being  in  no  wise  neglected. 
He  was  graduated  with  honor  from  Knox  College,  Gales- 
burg,  in  1877. 

"About  this  time,  he  was  deeply  stirred  by  the  action 
of  his  elder  brother  (whom  we  rejoice  to  have  here  with 
us  today),  who  finding  the  pearl  of  great  price  in  that 
part  of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church — fully  organized  among 
us  by  Bishops  Seabury,  White,  Provoost  and  Madison, 
sought  to  bring  his  own  brother  into  this  same  com- 
munion and  fellowship.  x\nd  as  so  often  happens,  so  in 
this  case,  the  younger  brother  was  moved  to  strive  against 
and  resist  this  proposition  which  was  new  to  him — and 
to  defend  place  and  denomination  of  his  Presbyterian 
fathers.  He  thought  quite  seriously  of  writing  a  work  in 
defense  of  Presbyterian  orders  as  against  that  of  Episco- 
pal, with  the  result,  so  often  reached,  that  his  larger  read- 
ing, and  deeper  study  led  him  to  the  conclusion  that  there 
had  been  from  the  beginning,  from  the  days  of  the 
Apostles,  three  orders  of  Ministers  in  Christ's  Church, 
viz.,  Bishops,  Priests  and  Deacons.  The  ripened  fruit  of 
this  study  was  issued  from  the  press  a  few  years  later,  in 
that  widely  read,  and  home-guiding  book,  known  as 
Little's  "Reasons  for  being  a  Churchman."  Though  writ- 
ten nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  it  is  still  powerful 
in  leading  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  Christian  people  to 
see  the  better  way — the  way  ordained  of  God  for  men  to 
walk  in,  who  would  feel  and  know  the  blessedness  of  an 
authoritative  ministry,  and  the  power  of  rightly  and  duly 
administered  Word  and  Sacraments  and  the  benefits  to 
be  derived  thereby. 

62 


"Convinced  of  the  right  way,  the  way  the  Fathers  had 
trod,  with  unbroken  continuity,  all  through  the  ages,  he 
felt  himself  moved  to  study  for  the  Sacred  Ministry.  To 
this  end,  he  sought  entrance  to  Seabury  Divinity  School, 
Faribault,  which  at  this  time  was  held  in  greatest  esteem, 
as  one  of  the  schools  of  the  prophets.  Here  he  took  his 
first  or  junior  year's  course  in  Theology.  It  did  not  fully 
satisfy  him.  He,  therefore,  took  his  middle  year  in  the 
General  Theological  Seminary,  New  York.  There  were 
giants  in  that  institution  in  those  days,  but  the  greatest 
among  them,  the  Rev.  Doctor  Seymour  was  about  this 
time  made  Bishop  of  Springfield,  and,  therefore,  Arthur 
W.  Little  again  moved  on  at  the  close  of  his  second  year, 
and  took  the  third  and  final  year  of  his  course  in  the 
Berkeley  Divinity  School,  Middletown,  Conn.,  under  that 
Master  Theologian  of  the  Catholic  faith.  Doctor  John 
Williams,  Bishop  of  Connecticut.  The  stamp  of  this 
Father's  clear,  strong,  dominant  mind,  made  its  impress 
upon  this  young  David,  and  remained  with  him  to  his 
latest  day. 

"Before  his  studies  in  the  Seminary  were  fully  com- 
pleted, arrangements  were  made  for  his  ordination  to  the 
diaconate  by  Bishop  Neeley,  to  take  place  in  Christ 
Church,  Exeter,  N.  H.,  March  20,  1881,  and  this  was 
followed  by  his  ordination  to  the  priesthood,  in  the 
Cathedral  Church  of  Portland,  Maine,  Sept.  10,  1881,  by 
the  same  Bishop.  As  Rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Portland,  his 
first  parish,  he  remained  for  full  seven  years,  doing  noble 
work  for  our  Mother,  the  church, — winning  many  souls 
to  the  obedience  of  Christ,  and  adorning  the  doctrine  of 
God  our  Saviour,  in  all  things  beloved  by  all  his  people, 
and  still  remembered  by  many  as  the  ardent  youth,  the 
cultivated  teacher,  the  helpful  preacher,  the  faithful  priest 
and  pastor  whose  memory  is  blessed,  and  whose  works 
do  follow  him.  No  wonder  that  the  fame  of  a  man  so 
strong  in  the  faith,  so  valiant  for  the  truth,  so  zealous  in 
promoting  good  works,  had  preceded  him  on  his  way, 
and  that  we  of  the  clergy,  as  well  as  the  faithful  laity  of 
his  parish  here,  stood  ready  to  give  him  hearty  welcome  to 
our  midst,  when  he  came  to  be  rector  of  this  parish.     I 


well  remember  the  strength  he  felt,  at  the  early  knowl- 
edge he  had  of  three  men  in  particular,  then  members  of 
his  vestry,  Charles  Comstock,  his  senior  warden,  since 
gathered  to  his  fathers  with  the  testimony  of  a  good  con- 
science and  in  the  Communion  of  the  Catholic  Church — 
whose  children  rise  up  and  call  him  and  his  faithful  and 
true  wife  blessed — and  Messrs.  Slaymaker  and  Buehler, 
who  are  still  with  us,  than  whom,  no  better  sons  of  God 
and  more  faithful  witnesses  to  Christ  and  his  church  can 
be  found.  With  such  men  and  some  others  like-minded, 
though  it  was  a  day  of  small  things  then  as  compared  with 
now,  this  ardent,  devoted  priest,  and  servant  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  knew  he  could  win  new-born  souls  to  Christ  in 
your  midst. 

"Entering  upon  his  rectorship  of  St.  Mark's  Church, 
Evanston,  on  the  festival  of  All  Saints',  Nov.  1,  1888,  he 
never  once  faltered  in  the  work  of  his  long  and  successful 
ministry  among  you.  Very  early  in  this  his  ministry,  I 
became  acquainted  with  him,  and  never  shall  I  forget  the 
cordial,  whole-hearted  welcome,  that  Nestor  of  priests. 
Doctor  Locke  gave  him,  and  the  gracious  manner  in  which 
he  introduced  our  younger  brother  to  the  whole  body  at  a 
deanery  meeting,  which  was  fully  equalled  by  the  cour- 
teous, not  to  say  elegant  response,  of  this  new  comer  to 
our  ranks. 

"Early  in  the  following  year,  when  the  old  church  of 
my  former  parish  in  Waukegan  was  to  be  deconsecrated 
and  removed,  and  the  new  and  more  permanent  one  was 
to  be  consecrated,  I  asked  Doctor  Little  to  preach  the 
final  sermon  in  the  old  church  before  we  passed  over  to 
the  new.  He  very  kindly  accepted  the  invitation,  preach- 
ing before  a  large  congregation  of  the  laity  and  many 
priests  of  the  diocese.  It  was  a  wonderful  sermon.  The 
subject  being  "Our  Mother  the  Church,  as  She  was,  as 
She  is,  and  as  She  is  to  be."  I  shall  never  forget  his 
closing  words, — 

"  'At  last,'  he  said,  'we  shall  see  Her  chiefest  among 
ten  thousand,  and  altogether  lovely.  His  Body,  the 
Church,  of  which  we  all  are  members,  will  be  all  glorious 
within.     We  shall  see  Her,  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle 

64 


or  any  such  thing.    She  will  be  holy  and  without  blemish/ 

"From  that  day  forward  to  the  morning  when  we  last 
met  together,  immediately  preceding  his  departure  from 
among  us,  our  friendship  was  constant  and  true.  Many 
and  frequent  have  been  the  tokens  of  this  friendship 
towards  me,  and  I  pray  he  felt  it  was  sincerely  recipro- 
cated. Little,  however,  did  I  dream  that,  so  soon  after 
that  our  last  meeting,  I  should  be  called  upon  to  pay  this 
final  tribute  to  his  memory. 

"If  not  mistaken.  I  think  I  have  already  said  that  in 
the  late  autumn  of  1888.  when  Doctor  Little  first  came 
to  live  and  labor  among  you,  it  was,  comparatively  speak- 
mg,  a  day  of  small  things  in  St.  Mark's  parish,  Evanston. 
Although  your  old  church,  built  in  1865  had  been  twice 
enlarged — first  by  adding  to  it  the  south  aisle,  and  later 
on  the  north  one — the  building  was  always  plain  and  un- 
attractive. Nor  was  that  other  temple,  the  one  not  made 
with  hands,  but  made  up  of  lively  stones  built  into  the 
living  rock,  as  yet  very  strong  in  the  Lord  and  the  power 
of  His  might.  Good  seed  had  indeed  been  sown,  was 
bringing  forth  good  fruit,  and  was  well-nigh  ready  to 
bring  forth  more  abundantly.  Other  ministers  of  Christ 
had  planted,  all  of  whom  I  knew  from  first  to  last,  and 
your  late  rector  entered  wisely  and  heartily  into  their 
labors. 

"With  the  present  welfare  and  influence  of  this  parish 
(and  there  is  none  more  prosperous  in  the  diocese)  must 
ever  be  associated  the  life  and  labors  of  Doctor  Little 
in  its  material,  moral,  and  spiritual  strength.  True,  when 
he  came  to  it.  the  nucleus  for  future  greatness  was  there, 
and  when  he,  the  new  leader,  came  with  wider  vision  and 
larger  purpose,  new  growth  came  also.  As  a  man,  there- 
fore, ordained  of  God  to  do  the  Lord's  business,  he  soon 
set  about  doing  it,  7vith  all  his  might.  His  power  was  soon 
felt  among  you,  and  that  which  had  been  long  looked  for- 
ward to  with  faint  hope  he  at  once  set  out  to  accomplish, 
with  strong  assurance. 

"This  well-located  lot  on  which  this  very  beautiful 
church  is  situated  was  bought  and  paid  for  in  1889,  and 
the  rectory  was  purchased  in  the  same  year.     Plans  and 

65 


specifications  for  the  erection  of  this  ahnost  ideal  church 
were  prepared  by  Messrs.  Holabird  and  Roche,  the  con- 
tract quickly  let,  and  the  corner  stone  of  this  House  of 
God  was  laid  on  the  Sunday  after  Ascension-day,  May  18, 
1890.  On  Easter  day  following,  the  doors  were  opened 
for  Divine  Worship,  and  on  St.  Mark's  Day,  April  25, 
1895,  being  free  from  debt,  it  was  duly  set  apart,  offered, 
and  consecrated  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  all 
men. 

"In  1903  the  adjoining  parish  house  was  built  to  meet 
the  growing  needs  of  the  parish.  It  has  proved  a  very 
boon  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  erected — the  as- 
sembling of  children  for  instruction  in  things  pertaining 
to  the  Kingdom  of  God — the  accommodation  of  all  the 
working  organizations  of  the  parish,  both  of  men  and 
women — as  well  as  having  suitable  quarters  for  the  choir 
and  curate  of  the  parish.  And  here  let  me  say  this  work 
of  his  and  yours  has  been  an  incentive  to  better  things 
throughout  the  entire  diocese.  More  suitable  parish 
houses  and  more  stately  churches  have  been  built  since, 
and  more  uplifting  services  have  in  many  places  followed. 
Now  this  could  not  have  been  had  not  our  brother  been  a 
true  man  among  men.  Under  his  leadership  you  all  went 
forward  unto  that  to  which  he  called  you  ;  and  by  the 
results  attained  it  is  proven  that  his  labor  was  not  in  vain. 
Of  him  it  can  certainly  be  said — as  regards  the  least — the 
material  things  of  the  Kingdom — "He  has  done  what  he 
could." 

"But  what  of  the  next  step  in  the  life  of  Doctor  Little 
among  you — a  pastor  in  parochia — an  under-shepherd  of 
the  sheep  of  Christ's  flock — a  physician  of  the  souls  of 
men?  Surely  in  this  he  was  most  diligent — ever  seeking 
to  recover  the  fallen — to  strengthen  the  weak — to  heal 
the  sick  and  confirm  the  strong.  As  pastor,  having  the 
cure  of  souls,  he  delivered  unto  you  without  fear  or  favor 
the  wholesome  medicine  of  Christ — the  need  for  true 
repentance  and  that  godly  sorrow  for  all  sin,  that  needeth 
not  to  be  repented  of — followed  by  the  pouring  in  of  the 
wine  and  oil  of  sacramental  grace,  whereby  the  wounds 
and  diseases  of  all  your  souls  might  be  healed.     xA.ll  may 


not  alike  have  been  benefited  by  his  ministry — because  all 
were  not  alike  open-hearted  and  willing-minded  to  receive 
all  that  he  taught,  though  his  teaching  was  ever  in  con- 
sonance with  the  Word  of  our  God  and  the  mind  of 
Christ.  Still  I  know  many  among  you,  are  ready  to  bear 
witness,  that  you  are  greatly  indebted  to  him  for  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  also  for  a  right 
valuation  and  proper  use  of  all  those  means  of  grace, 
whereby  you  may  live  and  grow  and  walk  in  all  the  days 
of  your  life. 

"In  the  third  and  last  place,  what  a  true  and  faithful 
priest  he  was  to  the  sick  and  to  the  whole.  None  knew 
better  than  he  the  need  of  drawing  nigh  to  Him,  our  Risen 
Master  and  Lord,  with  a  lively  faith  and  stedfast  purpose, 
if  we  would  do  God's  will  from  the  heart. 

"Fervent  prayer  must  often  be  made  unto  Him  if  we 
would  find  that  sufficiency  of  grace  to  help  in  every  time 
of  need.  How  highly  he  valued,  therefore,  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Altar,  just  because  he  knew  that  through  this 
Memorial  Sacrifice — united  to  the  one  great  sacrifice,  once 
for  all  made  on  Calvary's  Tree — and  presented  by  Him, 
and  through  His  merits  before  the  great  white  Throne  of 
God — we  may  all  live  again  in  Him,  Who  ever  liveth, 
making  intercession  for  us.  Because,  God  the  Father, 
now  only  looks  on  us  as  seen  in  Him  ;  not  indeed  as  we 
are,  but  as  we  strive,  long,  yearn  to  be  found  in  Him, 
clothed  in  His  righteousness  complete — perfect  and  pure, 
in  His  most  holy  sight. 

"We  may  well  think  then  of  our  brother  beloved,  to- 
day, as  a  man  ordained  of  God — set  apart  from  other  men 
to  do  the  Lord's  own  business,  and  we  find  he  so  did  it  as 
a  workman  who  need  not  be  ashamed.  From  this  high 
plane  to  which  by  God's  help  he  had  lifted  you,  he  be- 
sought you  ever  to  go  forward,  increasing  more  and  more 
in  the  knowledge  of  God's  will,  and  the  doing  of  those 
good  works  which  He  has  already  pre]'ared  for  you  to 
walk  in.  And  what  a  height  through  him,  you  have  risen 
to.  In  devotion,  and  constancy,  and  every  good  work, 
parochial,  diocesan  and  general, — your  parish— yes,  your 
parish  has  become  a  great  and  shining  example.  See  to 
it  no  one  takes  vour  crown. 

67 


"He  who  has  gone  from  among  us  so  suddenly,  so 
unexpectedly,  I  can  without  fear  of  gainsaying  declare 
wrought  among  you  with  all  diligence,  to  the  end  that  he 
might  at  last  present  you  faultless  in  Christ  Jesus — his  joy 
and  crown  of  rejoicing  in  that  day.  The  workman  has 
fallen  in  the  midst  of  his  labors — but  the  work  which  is 
God's,  must  still  go  on.  Therefore,  to  him  who  shall  be 
called  to  take  up  the  thread  of  work  among  you  where 
our  brother  and  faithful  witness  has  laid  it  down,  we  pray 
it  be  given  him  to  follow  on  in  our  Master's  train.  For 
surely  the  lines  will  have  fallen  unto  him  in  a  fair  ground, 
yea,  he  will  have  a  goodly  heritage,  and  every  reason  for 
responding  in  all  that  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call  upon 
him  for.  While  in  behalf  of  him  who  has  now  passed 
on  before  us,  let  us  all  pray — with  fervour  pray — Lord 
Jesus  grant  him  mercy — eternal  rest — ever-deepening 
peace — and  may  light  perpetual  shine  upon  him.    Amen." 

THE  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE 
OPENING  OF  ST.   MARK'S  CHURCH 

1891-1911 

There  were  no  special  services  or  meetings  to  mark 
the  twentieth  anniversary  of  the  opening  of  St.  Mark's 
Church,  but  I  wrote  to  Bishop  Burch  and  the  Rev.  J. 
Stewart-Smith  asking  for  anything  they  felt  disposed  to 
send,  as  touching  upon  the  anniversary,  for  use  in  the 
parish  magazine.  Their  replies  were  published  in  The 
Lion  for  April,  1911,  and  were  so  interesting  that  I  feel 
fully  justified  in  giving  them  a  place  in  these  records  of 
special  services  and  occasions. 

FR.  SMITH'S  GREETING 

"In  the  pages  of  the  Bible  that  has  been  in  daily  use 
throughout  my  ministry  lies  a  red  silk  badge  on  which  is 
printed  'Saint  Mark's  Guild,  1877,'  and  the  mystical 
Lion  of  St.  Mark,  which,  I  believe,  was  the  first  time  the 
symbol  was  ever  used  in  the  parish.  For  all  the  years 
since  then  it  has  served  as  a  constant  reminder  of  the 


church  and  people  of  Evanston,  where  I  began  my  priest- 
hood, having  been  ordained  in  the  Cathedral,  Chicago, 
Feb.  13th,  1876,  the  first  priest  ordained  by  Bishop 
McLaren,  and  entering  upon  the  Rectorship  of  St.  Mark's 
the  following  day.  It  affords  me  real  pleasure  to  con- 
gratulate the  parish  through  'The  Lion  of  St.  Mark'  in  the 
Twentieth  Anniversary  of  the  opening  of  the  present 
church  and  to  comply  with  your  request  to  recall  some- 
thing of  my  pastorate. 

"St.  Mark's  has  always  held  its  place  in  my  affec- 
tions ;  it  was  my  first  love ;  I  took  to  it  the  freshness  and 
enthusiasm  of  youth ;  I  tried  to  teach  the  Catholic  faith 
in  its  entirety,  and  God  blessed  me  far  more  than  I  de- 
served. It  was  mine  to  plant  the  seed,  but  the  soil  had 
been  prepared  by  the  faithful  priests  that  had  labored 
there  before  me,  and  it  would  have  perished  but  for  the 
great  and  good  men  that  came  after  me ;  to  them  belongs 
the  glory ;  the  beautiful  church  of  today  is  their  monu- 
ment. 

"In  1876  St.  Mark's  was  the  only  church  between  All 
Saints',  Chicago,  and  Highland  Park.  I  held  the  first 
services  of  the  church  regularly  at  North  Evanston,  Wil- 
mette,  Winnetka,  and  occasionally  at  Rogers  Park  and 
Glencoe,  and  ministered  in  South  Evanston. 

"Some  will  remember  the  w'ooden  church  on  Davis 
street,  with  its  whitewashed  walls,  the  little  altar,  without 
retable  or  steps,  and  its  single  ornament,  a  ten-inch,  rough 
wood  cross.  The  brass  cross,  which  I  believe  is  now  upon 
the  chapel  altar,  was  the  first  innovation,  and  was  given 
by  the  Sunday  School  at  Easter,  1876. 

"But  if  the  church  was  poor,  there  were  noble  people 
to  welcome  the  youthful  priest.  The  names  of  Comstock, 
Lake,  Wilcox,  Slaymaker,  Hobbs,  Lyon,  Wyman,  Stacey, 
Wicker  and  many  others  will  never  be  forgotten ;  some  of 
them  have  passed  away,  but  their  works  live  after  them. 
May  tliey  rest  in  peace  and  light  perpetual  shine  npon 
them. 

"In  the  four  years  of  my  rectorship  the  church  was 
decorated,  a  proper  altar  and  reredos  erected,  vases,  altar 
cloths,  and  linens  supplied,  and  on  special  occasions  lights 


and  silk  vestments  used ;  but  far  more  important,  the 
weekly  Eucharist  was  begun,  and  later,  one  on  every 
Thursday.  Catholic  doctrine  was  fearlessly  taught  and  the 
Church  set  forth  in  her  true  light,  as  she  had  never  been 
before.  And  yet  our  relations  to  those  outside  the  Church 
were  never  strained,  and  among  them  I  have  always 
numbered  some  of  my  warmest  friends.  When  I  re- 
signed, in  January,  1880,  six  gentlemen,  a  Roman  Catho- 
lic, a  Lutheran,  a  Congregationalist,  two  Baptists  and  a 
Presbyterian,  came  together  and  asked  me  to  remain,  and 
offered  to  contribute  to  my  salary. 

''May  God  continue  to  bless  St.  Mark's  and  all  the 
people  of  Evanston. 

J.  Stewart-Smith. 

St.  ]\Iary's  Church,  Kansas  Citv,  Mo. 
March  28th.  1911. 


BISHOP  BURCH'S  GREETING 

"It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  send  a  word  of  greet- 
ing to  the  dear  old  parish  which  is  soon  to  celebrate  the 
twentieth  anniversary  of  the  opening  of  the  new  church. 

"How  well  I  remember  the  occasion,  but  how  diffi- 
cult to  realize  that  it  was  twenty  years  ago.  We  were  all 
so  happy  and  so  proud  of  that  beautiful  new  building,  yet 
none  quite  so  happy  or  so  intensely  interested  as  Doctor 
Little,  who  had  followed  every  step  of  the  construction, 
from  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone,  with  that  earnest  de- 
votion and  that  scrupulous  care  for  thoroughness  and 
churchliness  in  every  detail,  which  marked  all  his  life's 
work  for  the  Church. 

"I  wonder  if  we  wdio  are  sons  and  daughters  of  St. 
Mark's  fully  realize  the  great  debt  we  all  owe  to  this  con- 
secrated man,  who  has,  as  well,  placed  the  whole  Ameri- 
can Church  under  obligations  which  it  will  be  hard  to 
repay,  even  in  our  most  grateful  memory  of  his  life  and 
work. 

"Kind  friends  have  sent  me  TJie  Lion  of  St.  Mark 
for  months  past,  just  as  Doctor  Little  did  during  his  busy 
life,  and  I  have  been  glad  to  follow  you  all  in  your  eft'orts 


for  the  parish  to  whicli  my  heart  turns  in  loving  recollec- 
tion very  frequently. 

"It  was  the  parish  in  which  I  did  my  first  work  as 
Sunday  School  Superintendent,  as  Lay  Reader  and  Par- 
ish Helper,  in  which  I  became  a  candidate  for  orders,  and 
it  was  in  St.  Mark's  that  I  was  ordered  deacon  by  Bishop 
McLaren,  with  Doctors  Little  and  Gold  as  presenters,  in 
1895. 

"All  through  my  ministry  up  to  the  present  time  I 
have  worn  the  exquisitely  beautiful  stole  presented  to  me 
by  the  teachers  and  scholars  of  the  Sunday  School.  It 
has  been  and  will  continue  to  be  my  only  white  stole,  and 
I  treasure  it  beyond  words. 

"Just  as  my  heart  went  out  to  you  all  in  loving 
sympathy  of  your  great  loss  of  last  autumn,  so  today  do 
I  rejoice  that  you  have  so  happily  and  satisfactorily  settled 
the  succession  to  Doctor  Little ;  and  for  your  new^  rector, 
Mr.  Longley,  and  for  every  member  of  old  St.  Mark's, 
may  I  bespeak  God's  richest  blessing  in  the  years  to  come, 
and  a  happy,  successful  celebration  of  your  coming  anni- 
versary. Affectionately. 

Charles  S.  Burch. 
(   Bishop  Suffragan    of  Xew  York.  ) 

Bishop's  House,  Gramercy  Park, 
Xew  York,  March  29,  1911. 


CONSECRATION    OF    DOCTOR    LONGLEY 

Wednesday,  October  23rd,  1912,  appointed  by  the 
Most  Rev.  Daniel  Sylvester  Tuttle,  D.  D.,  presiding 
bishop  of  the  American  Church  as  the  day  for  the  Conse- 
cration of  the  first  Suffragan  Bishop  of  Iowa,  will  long 
be  remembered  as  marking  perhaps  the  chief  among  many 
great  functions  which  have  taken  place  within  St.  Mark's 
Church. 

It  is  unusual  for  the  average  parish  church  to  witness 
the  services  of  the  ^Making  of  Deacons,  the  Ordering  of 
Priests,  and,  most  important  of  all,  the  Consecration  of 

71 


Bishops.  Yet  St.  Mark's  has  enjoyed  that  unique  privi- 
lege. On  the  Twentieth  Sunday  after  Trinity,  October 
27th,  1895,  Mr.  Charles  S.  Burch  (the  present  Suffragan 
Bishop  of  New  York)  and  Mr.  W.  S.  Howard  (now 
rector  of  Christ  Church,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota)  were  or- 
dered deacons  in  our  church  by  Bishop  McLaren.  On  the 
Third  Sunday  in  Lent,  March  6th,  1904,  the  Rev.  Russell 
J.  Wilbur  took  the  solemn  vows  of  the  priesthood  and 
was  advanced  to  that  office  in  St.  Mark's  by  the  Bishop 
Co-adjutor  of  Chicago,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Charles  P.  Anderson, 
D.  D.  And  last  and  greatest  of  all  was  the  impressive 
service  when  Doctor  Longley  was  consecrated.  The  fol- 
lowing is  from  the  parish  magazine  for  November,  1912: 
"Despite  the  extreme  dullness  of  the  preceding  day, 
Wednesday,  October  23rd,  dawned  fairly  clear,  and  by 
nine  o'clock  bright  sunshine  prevailed  and  continued 
throughout  the  entire  day.  From  early  morning  St. 
Mark's  was  a  scene  of  activity  until  the  hour  set  for  the 
consecration, — 10:30  a.  m.  Far  more  promptly  than  is 
usual  at  such  important  functions  the  long  procession  left 
the  parish  house  within  a  few  minutes  of  10 :30,  and  pro- 
ceeding to  the  West  Door  on  Ridge  avenue,  entered  the 
church  to  Mendelssohn's  'March  of  the  Priests.'  The 
procession  was  made  up  of  three  divisions.  First  came 
the  choir,  then  the  clergy,  and  last  of  all  the  bishops,  each 
division  having  its  own  crossbearer.  After  the  choristers 
reached  their  places  in  the  chancel,  hymn  133,  'Hear  us 
Thou  that  broodest  o'er  the  watery  deep,'  was  sung  as 
the  line  of  twelve  bishops,  led  by  the  venerable  figure  of 
the  presiding  bishop,  wended  its  way  to  the  chancel 
through  the  ranks  of  the  clergy  which  extended  the  entire 
length  of  the  nave  and  outside  to  Ridge  avenue.  The 
scene  as  the  bishops  entered  the  chancel  and  approached 
the  altar,  preceded  by  crossbearer  and  torchbearers.  was 
most  impressive.  When  all  were  in  their  allotted  places, 
psalm  121,  T  will  lift  up  mine  eyes,'  was  sung  as  the 
Introit,  following  which  the  presiding  bishop  commenced 
the  celebration  of  the  Holy  Eucharist.  The  sermon  was 
a  scholarly  defense  of  the  historic  episcopate  by  Bishop 
Olmsted  of  Central  New  York.    At  its  close,  the  bishop- 

72 


elect,  accompanied  by  Bishop  Israel  of  Erie  and  Doctor 
Toll,  Suffragan  Bishop  of  Chicago,  came  forward  to  the 
altar  rail  and  was  presented  to  the  presiding  bishop.  Here 
followed  the  reading  of  the  certificate  of  election,  the 
canonical  testimonial,  the  certificate  of  ordination,  the 
consents  of  the  standing  committees  and  the  consents  of 
the  bishops.  Doctor  Longley,  having  read  the  constitu- 
tional requirement  which  he  had  previously  signed,  then 
made  the  promise  of  conformity.  After  this  the  Litany 
was  eft'ectively  sung  by  Bishop  Williams  of  Nebraska,  at 
the  close  of  which  came  the  examination  of  the  bishop- 
elect,  and  on  his  retiring  to  put  on  the  "rest  of  the  episco- 
pal habit,"  the  choir  rendered  Stainer's  'They  that  wait 
upon  the  Lord.'  Re-entering  the  church  by  the  choir 
door  with  his  attending  presbyters,  the  Rev.  A.  L.  Long- 
ley  and  the  Rev.  A.  R.  B.  Hegeman,  Doctor  Longley  came 
forward  to  the  prie-dieu.  placed  at  the  entrance  to  the 
chancel  and  knelt,  while  the  consecrator  (Bishop  Tuttle) 
and  co-consecrators  (Bishops  Anderson  and  Morrison) 
with  six  other  bishops  slowly  advanced  from  the  sanc- 
tuary. Grouping  themselves  about  the  bishop-elect  as  he 
knelt,  the  Bishop  of  Nebraska  sang  antiphonally  with 
the  choir  the  J'eni,  Creator  Spiritiis,  to  the  traditional 
plainsong  setting.  Then  followed  the  actual  Consecra- 
tion. After  delivering  to  the  newly  created  bishop  a  copy 
of  the  Bible,  and  investing  him  with  his  pectoral  cross 
and  episcopal  ring,  the  presiding  bishop,  giving  his  right 
hand  to  Bishop  Longley.  led  him  within  the  sanctuary, 
and  the  service  of  the  Holy  Eucharist  proceeded  accord- 
ing to  the  usual  order. 

"At  the  close  of  the  service  the  procession  left  the 
church  by  the  West  Door  and  proceeded  to  the  parish 
house,  where  the  certificate  of  consecration  was  duly 
signed  by  Bishops  Tuttle.  Anderson.  Morrison,  Olmsted, 
Israel,  Toll,  Williams,  Griswold,  and  Osborne,  who  had 
united  in  the  imposition  of  hands.  Among  the  out-of- 
town  clergy  present  was  the  Rev.  J.  Stewart  Smith,  rector 
of  St.  Mark's  from  1876  to  1880.  In  the  procession  of 
clergy  was  the  Rev.  Frederick  C.  Jewell,  a  son  of  Doctor 
Jewell,  the  sixth  rector  of  St.  Mark's." 

73 


THE  FIFTIETH  ANNIVERSARY 

I  have  preferred  to  use  Doctor  Rogers'  account  of 
the  observance  of  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  St.  Mark's 
Parish  as  given  in  the  May,  1914,  number  of  the  Lion  of 
St.  Mark.  I  am  also  including  the  sermon  delivered  at 
the  special  anniversary  service  on  Monday,  April  20th, 
not  because  it  had  in  it  anything  touching  upon  the  past 
history  of  the  parish,  which  the  average  person  quite  nat- 
urally looks  for  on  such  an  occasion,  but  rather,  because 
striking  as  Doctor  Jefferys'  words  were,  they  proved  in- 
finitely more  striking  and'  significant  in  the  light  of  what 
happened  within  a  few  months  of  the  day  on  which  he 
spoke  them. 

"The  Fiftieth  Anniversary  services  were  held  on 
Sunday  and  Monday,  April  19th  and  20th,  1914.  The 
usual  Sunday  School  session  was  omitted,  and  in  its  place 
the  school  marched  into  the  church  for  a  special  service, 
with  an  address  by  Bishop  Longley.  At  the  morning 
service  Bishop  Anderson  preached  a  noble  sermon  on 
parochial  usefulness,  and  administered  the  Rite  of  Con- 
firmation. Bishop  Longley  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jefiferys, 
rector  of  St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia,  were  also  present  in 
the  chancel.  Bishop  Longley  preached  in  the  afternoon, 
and  it  was  a  great  pleasure  that  one  who  had  done  so 
much  for  St.  Mark's  in  so  short  a  time  could  lend  his 
presence  and  his  counsel. 

"The  anniversary  thanksgiving  service  was  held  on 
Monday  morning  at  eleven  o'clock.  Bishops  Anderson, 
Toll  and  Longley  officiated  at  the  Holy  Communion.  Dr. 
Jefifery's  sermon  speaks  for  itself.  Some  sermons  are 
profound,  and  some  are  practical,  but  this  was  both. 
About  fifty  of  the  clergy  were  present  in  their  vestments, 
and  a  number  more  were  in  the  congregation.  Among 
those  from  outside  the  diocese  were  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hinkle, 
of  Iowa ;  the  Rev.  William  F.  Shero,  of  Racine ;  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Rushton,  of  New  York ;  and  the  Rev.  James 
Stewart-Smith,   of    Kansas   City,    rector   of   St.    Mark's 


THE  REV.  ARTHUR  ROGERS,  D.  D. 
Rector,   October    1st,   1913 


from  1876  to  1880.  The.  Rev.  Theodore  B.  Foster  and 
the  Rev.  Frederick  G.  Endlong  served  as  marshals.  I 
will  not  attempt  to  repeat  the  many  expressions  of  appre- 
ciation and  enthusiasm  that  came  to  me  about  the  musical 
portion  of  the  service.  We  who  worship  at  St.  Mark's 
knew  what  it  would  be,  and  it  was  all  that  we  could  have 
expected  or  desired. 

"At  the  close  of  the  service  luncheon  was  served  in 
the  parish  building  to  the  visiting  clergy,  the  vestry,  the 
men  of  the  choir,  and  a  few  invited  guests.  Short  speeches 
were  made  by  Bishop  Anderson.  Bishop  Toll,  Dr.  Jeff- 
erys.  Professor  Foster  and  Dr.  Stewart-Smith." 

DEMOCRACY  AND  CHRISTIANITY 

Sermon  preached  at  St.  Mark's  Church,  Evanston,  Illinois, 
on  Monday,  April  20,  1914,  at  the  celebration  of  the  Fiftieth 
Anniversary  of  the  Parish,  by  Dr.  Edward  M.  Jcffcrys,  Rector 
of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

"Without  me,  ye  can  do  nothing."— St.  John,  xv.5. 


These  are  the  words  of  Jesus,  and  they  mean,  I  take 
it,  that  human  society  is  a  mistake,  a  failure,  and  an  abor- 
tion without  Him ;  that  He  is  the  Saviour  of  men ;  and 
that  men  without  Him  are  lost. 

The  two  pronouns  in  the  text  stand,  it  seems  to  me, 
for  the  two  greatest  forces  in  the  world,  Detnocracy  and 
Christianity.  Let  us  assume  preliminarily  that  the  hope 
of  the  world  in  general,  and  of  this  country  in  particular 
— that  is  to  say,  the  hope  of  modern  civilization — lies  in 
the  alliance  of  these  two  forces.  I  do  not  mean  the  alli- 
ance between  the  Christian  Church  and  the  State.  Wher- 
ever that  experiinent  has  been  tried,  in  the  long  run  it 
has  proved  a  failure,  in  many  cases  a  disastrous  failure. 
Note  the  history  of  Spain,  of  France,  even  of  England. 
In  the  end  the  State  has  corrupted  the  Church,  and  the 
Church,  bound  hand  and  foot  by  its  connection  with  the 
State,  has  gradually  become  powerless  to  do  its  real  work. 
In  any  case,  we  in  this  country  are  perfectly  sure  that  we 
do  not  wish  to  try  anything  of  the  kind.    The  experiment 

75 


was  tried  in  Colonial  days  and  proved  a  bitter  failure,  and 
it  would  prove  a  failure  today. 

I  do  not  want,  therefore,  an  alliance  of  Church  and 
State,  but  an  alliance  of  the  spirit  of  Democracy  and  the 
spirit  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  mean  that  the  spirit  of  Democ- 
racy without  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ  can  do  nothing. 

This  seems  to  me  a  suitable  occasion  on  which  to  dis- 
cuss such  a  subject.  We  are  met  together  here  to  com- 
memorate fifty  years  of  parochial  activity.  For  half  a 
century  you  have  done  the  work  of  a  Christian  center  of 
power  in  this  community ;  and  it  happens  that  these  same 
years  have  been  years  of  testing  for  the  spirit  of  Democ- 
racy. Fifty  years  ago,  it  was  confidently  believed  in  cer- 
tain quarters  that  the  spirit  of  Democracy  would  solve 
every  problem  with  which  society  was  confronted,  would 
cure  every  ill  to  which  flesh  is  heir;  and  just  now  when 
you  are  summing  up  your  achievements  and  history,  the 
world  is  asking  itself  with  agonizing  earnestness :  How 
has  the  spirit  of  Democracy  fulfilled  our  hopes? 

Now  let  us  stop  to  think  and  to  ask  ourselves :  Just 
what  is  Democracy? 

I  use  the  word,  of  course,  in  its  broad  non-partisan 
sense,  not  as  a  political  or  party  shibboleth,  but  as  a 
philosophical  term.  Democracy  means  people  power ;  it 
is  derived  from  a  Greek  word  meaning  people,  and  from 
another  Greek  word  meaning  power.  Democracy  has 
nothing  to  do  with  the  form  of  government.  Sometimes 
we  voluntarily  believe  that  Democracy  and  a  republic  are 
synonymous  terms.  Nothing  is  further  from  the  truth. 
Many  South  American  republics  are  medieval  tyrannies 
pure  and  simple.  Mexico  is  no  longer  as  it  was  under 
President  Diaz,  a  despotism,  but  is  a  republic  founded 
upon  blood  and  iron,  assaults  open  and  indirect,  open 
bribery  and  corruption.  Even  the  French  Republic  is 
not  a  democracy  in  the  pure  sense,  but  it  is  an  autocratic 
government  both  in  theory  and  practice. 

Some  of  our  waiters  believe,  and  I  believe  most  thor- 
oughly, and  am  free  to  assert  the  fact,  that  the  purest 
democracy  which  has  ever  been  evolved  in  the  history  of 
the  world  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  American  Republic 

76 


but  in  the  English  Monarchy.  However  that  may  be,  the 
fact  remains  that  Democracy  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
form  of  government.  It  is  people  power,  under  whatever 
form  of  government  it  may  be  found.  In  a  very  real 
sense,  there  was  no  such  thing  as  people  power  until  the 
American  Revolution.  In  a  very  real  sense  there  was  no 
such  thing,  I  say,  in  all  the  world.  The  ancient  republic 
was  not  a  democracy  in  the  modern  sense.  Actually  the 
power  was  restricted  to  the  small  minority.  Even  Aris- 
totle was  satisfied  to  limit  citizenship  to  one  man  in  every 
ten  and  to  leave  the  other  nine  in  the  class  of  slaves  and 
aliens.  It  was  not  the  people  but  the  nobles  and  clergy 
that  extorted  Magna  Charta  from  John  in  1215.  So  in  a 
very  real  sense  there  w-as  no  such  thing  as  people  power 
in  all  the  world  until  the  American  Revolution.  Before 
that,  power  belonged  to  the  very  few,  and  the  many  w^ere 
powerless. 

Let  us  not  flatter  ourselves,  however,  that  the  people 
power  has  been  confined  to  America.  The  people  power 
has  never  been  displayed  so  emphatically  as  in  the  days 
of  the  French  Revolution.  In  a  moment,  privileges  and 
customs  and  fortunes  were  swept  away.  In  a  moment, 
crowns  and — as  one  of  our  writers  has  said — the  heads 
which  wore  them  were  rolled  in  the  mire.  The  people 
power  wholly  and  utterly  broke  the  remnant  of  united 
Europe,  and  every  king  trembled  on  his  throne.  It  was 
not  Napoleon.  Napoleon  has  gotten  the  credit  over  and 
over  again,  but  Napoleon  was  riding  on  the  crest  of  the 
wave,  and  that  wave  was  the  wave  of  people  power.  It 
was  not  Napoleon,  it  was  the  people  power  that  tore  Eu- 
rope in  the  days  of  the  Bastile  and  "The  Deluge." 

And  before  an  earthquake  or  an  eruption  there  is 
always  shaking  and  rumbling  and  detonation.  It  was  so 
before  the  destruction  of  Herculaneum  and  Pompeii,  it 
was  so  before  the  destruction  of  Reggio  and  Messina ;  it 
was  so  before  the  destruction  of  Lisbon ;  and  so  before 
the  i\merican  Revolution  there  were  rumblings  and  shak- 
ings, if  anyone  had  cared  to  listen.  There  was  no  erup- 
tion, no  earthquake,  but  suddenly  at  Concord  and  at  Lex- 
ington this  stream  of  lava  began  to  flow,  and  in  a  moment 

77 


privileges  and  institutions  that  felt  themselves  as  secure 
as  Herculaneum  and  Pompeii  were  buried  under  the  lava, 
fire  and  ashes ;  they  were  shaken  down  and  became  a 
heap  of  blackened  rubbish.  Yet  even  after  the  American 
Revolution  people  power  was  not  taken  very  seriously. 
The  War  of  1812  was  the  direct  result  of  a  signal  disre- 
gard of  the  people  power.  When  the  Capitol  was  taken, 
it  was  believed  in  many  quarters  that  people  power  was 
dead  and  buried  and  that  it  would  soon  be  forgotten. 

It  was  really  the  War  of  1812  more  than  the  Amer- 
ican Revolution  that  convinced  the  world  that  people 
power  was  a  thing  to  be  taken  seriously.  It  swept  the 
English  fleets  from  the  Great  Lakes,  humiliated  them 
upon  the  high  seas,  and  henceforth  it  was  a  power  to  be 
reckoned  with. 

Now  the  point  I  wish  to  make  is  that  people  power 
has  been  tried  thoroughly  for  more  than  a  century  at 
home  and  abroad.  This  brings  us  to  the  question :  Has 
the  people  power  failed? 

We  stand  here  at  the  end  of  a  century  of  experi- 
mentation ;  we  look  back  at  the  wonderful  memoirs  and 
enchanting  story  of  Democracy,  and  the  question  of  ques- 
tions forces  itself  upon  us:  Has  the  people  power  failed? 
Few,  I  think,  can  look  the  facts  in  the  face,  just  as  they 
are,  fairly  and  honestly ;  few  of  us  can  do  that  without 
feeling  that  the  experiment  has  to  some  extent  failed. 
W'e  cannot  read  that  long  list  of  waiters,  running  down  to 
the  last  word  which  has  been  spoken,  without  realizing 
that  one  after  another  of  the  most  thoughtful  of  them  feel 
that  the  experiment  after  all.  in  many  directions,  has 
failed.  They  tell  us  that  the  spirit  of  Democracy  has  not 
been  able  to  solve  the  problems  with  which  society  is  con- 
fronted. They  tell  us  it  has  not  been  able  even  to  point 
us  to  any  definite  hope  of  improvement  in  our  political, 
social  and  industrial  life.  It  is  perfectly  true  that  some 
of  these  writers  catalogue  them  as  failures  of  Democracy 
with  evident  satisfaction.  But  whether  we  are  glad  or 
sorry,  the  shortcomings  of  Democracy  cannot  be  over- 
looked or  denied.  Let  us  never  forget  that  the  greatest 
movements  in  the  world  have  made  their  mistakes;  that 


the  Church  has  made  its  terrible  mistakes  over  and  over 
again ;  that  philanthropy  is  making  its  mistakes  today ; 
that  love  and  friendship  and  sympathy  are  making  their 
mistakes ;  yet  this  is  no  reason  to  overlook  or  condone  the 
mistakes  of  this  great  power.  It  is  the  part  of  wisdom  not 
to  shut  our  eyes  so  that  we  do  not  see  them  and  see  that 
they  are  dangerous,  and  that  if  these  mistakes  are  not 
corrected,  they  will  bring  down  upon  us  a  greater  ruin 
than  that  of  the  French  Revolution.  It  is  the  part  of 
wisdom  and.  indeed,  it  is  our  paramount  duty  to  realize 
that  while  the  voice  of  the  people  is  sometimes  the  voice 
of  God,  it  is  sometimes  the  voice  of  an  evil  genius  stand- 
ing at  your  right  hand  whispering  into  your  ear  the  mes- 
sage of  Sin,  Satan  and  Death.  It  is  our  paramount  duty 
to  recognize  the  fact  that  the  people  power  is  either  a 
power  for  good  or  a  power  for  evil,  as  the  case  may  be ; 
it  is  only  a  question  of  Will  and  ]\Iight. 

Here  you  have  the  secret  of  the  mistakes,  the  fail- 
ures, the  shortcomings  of  the  people  power;  human  so- 
ciety, when  it  is  a  question  merely  of  absolutism  or 
democracy,  is  a  failure  without  Jesus  Christ. 

God  grant  every  man,  God  grant  every  citizen  the 
grace  to  understand  that  verity  with  all  his  heart  and  all 
his  soul  and  all  his  strength.  I  suppose  if  there  is  one 
thing  certain  in  all  the  world,  it  is  that  people  power  will 
never  again  lack  force.  Absolutism  is  dead  or  is  doomed 
to  die,  but  people  power  will  never  again  lack  force ;  but 
unless  it  is  transfigured  with  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ, 
it  will  become  a  more  sinister  power  than  the  world  has 
ever  seen,  a  more  terrible  thing  than  Nero,  or  Attila  the 
Hun,  or  Ivan  the  Terrible.  Do  you  remember  the  picture 
which  Emile  Zola  paints  of  Democracy  ?  Emile  Zola  could 
see  the  power  of  the  people  but  he  had  no  vision  of  the 
power  of  God,  and  so  when  he  was  looking  into  the  future 
and  painting  a  picture  he  makes  a  train  of  cars  and  he 
fills  it  with  men  and  then  he  sends  it  into  the  night  with- 
out engineer  or  fireman,  with  the  throttle  wide  open,  roar- 
ing, shrieking,  and  hurling  itself  into  the  blackness  of 
darkness  forever. 


That  is  the  Democracy  of  the  sword,  Democracy 
without  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Countless  experiments  have  been  tried  to  secure  the 
beneficence  of  people  power.  Fifty  years  ago  when  any- 
thing went  wrong,  men  said :  "Let  us  increase  the  suff- 
rage. Let  us  bring  all  nearer  to  a  universal  bond."  So 
that  suffrage  was  increased  for  men  and  women ;  but  we 
know  in  our  hearts  that  this  did  not  solve  the  problems. 
So  we  turned  to  universal  education  for  men  and  women, 
and  we  went  into  that  to  put  all  upon  an  equality ;  and 
when  that  failed  to  solve  the  problems,  to  cure  the  ills, 
we  turned  to  what  we  are  doing  now — we  began  to  fill 
our  statute  books  with  countless  vicious  laws,  and  every- 
one knows  that  one  is  as  powerless  by  itself  as  the  other 
is.  What  we  want  to  solve  the  problems  and  to  cure  the 
ills  is  this :  The  eternal  "Without  Me,  ye  can  do  noth- 
ing." 

That  assurance  is  based  on  the  fact  that  our  blessed 
Lord  is  the  only  one  who  has  ever  been  in  a  position  to 
understand  man  as  he  is.  There  is  no  brotherhood  but 
the  brotherhood  which  he  founded  and  established  upon 
the  fatherhood  of  God.  There  is  no  pattern  but  the  pat- 
tern which  he  showed.  In  a  word,  there  is  no  way,  no 
truth  and  no  life  but  his  way,  his  truth  and  his  life.  He 
needed  not  that  any  should  testify  of  man,  for  he  knew 
what  was  in  man.  Knowing  man  perfectly,  he  taught  us 
that  salvation  was  the  sweet  simple,  sublime  gospel  of 
unselfishness.  It  is  the  gospel  that  Democracy  must  learn 
or  perish  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  It  must  learn 
that  gospel  if  it  is  to  be  a  power  that  makes  for  good;  it 
must  learn  that  gospel  or  be  brushed  off  the  face  of  the 
earth,  because  no  power  will  be  permitted  to  remain 
which  does  not  make  for  good.  The  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  spirit  of  unselfishness ;  and  it  is  under  the  spur  of  that 
spirit  that  all  those  ghastly  spectres  which  are  so  ominous, 
so  threatening  in  our  future — the  spectre  of  class  hatred, 
the  spectre  of  red-handed  anarchy  and  of  the  deadly  stil- 
etto, and  the  spectre  of  confusion  and  disorder,  the 
spectre  of  the  rich  becoming  richer  and  of  the  poor  be- 
coming poorer ;  it  is  under  the  spur  of  the  spirit  of  Christ 


that  all  of  these  spectres  will  disappear.     Unselfishness, 
that  is  the  great  secret. 

Do  you  know  that  the  man  who  goes  down  to  his 
office  in  the  morning  and  sits  before  his  table  and  leans 
his  head  upon  his  hands  and  asks  himself  deeply  the 
question,  "What  can  I  get?"  that  man  is  the  enemy  of 
human  society. 

Do  you  know  that  the  man  who  goes  to  that  same 
office  and  leans  over  his  table,  asking  himself  deeply, 
"What  can  I  give?"  that  he  is  the  saviour  of  society.  It 
is  the  difference  between  Christ  crucified  and  the  thief 
that  was  crucified  beside  him.  It  is  the  difference  between 
Christ's  life  and  the  life  of  the  malefactor. 

Today,  therefore,  my  friends,  is  not  only  a  day  of 
retrospection,  it  is  a  day  of  looking  forward. 

If  there  is  one  thing  certain  in  all  the  world,  it  is  that 
the  spirit  of  democracy  is  to  rule  the  coming  century. 
What,  then,  is  the  mission  of  the  Christian  parish  and  the 
Christian  center  of  influence  at  this  time?  Is  it  not  to  de- 
liver faithfully  to  the  people  the  message,  "Without  Me, 
ye  can  do  nothing?"  Is  it  not  to  influence  the  spirit  of 
Democracy  with  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ? 

A  writer  asks  me,  "Why  cannot  the  people  power 
do  some  things  without  Him?"  He  asks  me,  "Why  can- 
not the  people  power  do  many  things  without  Him?"  He 
asks  me,  "Why  cannot  the  people  power  fulfill  its  destiny 
without  Him?" 

It  is  entirely  within  the  realm  of  possibility  that  peo- 
ple power  one  day  will  sit  on  the  dead  body  of  its  own 
life,  that  it  will  forever  fade  from  our  modern  civihzation, 
that  it  will  fail  as  utterly  and  completely  as  Absolutism 
has  failed. 

The  message  which  is  the  mission  of  the  Church 
today  is  not  only  to  touch  the  lips  of  humanity  with  a  coal 
from  the  Christian  altar ;  it  is  to  lead  men  into  the  Way, 
the  Truth,  and  the  Life;  it  is  to  bring  about  an  alliance 
between  the  spirit  of  Democracy  and  the  spirit  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  so  as  to  make  modern  civilization  the  real  ful- 
filment and  expression  of  the  will  of  God. 


FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY    OF   THE    PARISH 

Monday,  April  20,  1914 

Cfjotal  Cudjarisft  (U:00) 

Organ Mendelssohn 

"Allegro  moderato"  (from  Sonata  No.  1) 


Processional  Hymn  311 Jeffery 

"Ancient  of  Days" 

Introit  Psalm  24 Gregorian 

''The  Earth  is  the  Lord's" 

Kyrie  (Shortened  form) Gounod  {St.  Cecilia) 

Credo  Gounod  (St.  Cecilia) 

Hymn  396  "Alford" 

"Ten  Thousand  Times  Ten  Thousand" 

Offertory  Anthem    Brahms 

"How  Lovely  Is  Thy  Dwelling  Place  ' 

Sursum  Corda Plainsong 

Sanctus Gounod  (St.  Cecilia) 

Benedictus  qui  venit Gounod  (St.  Cecilia) 

Agnus  Dei Gounod  (St.  Cecilia) 

Gloria  in  Excelsis Gounod  (St.  Cecilia) 

Nunc  Dimittis  Gregorian 

Processional  Hymn  368 " Knight shridge" 

"Alleluia  !  sing  to  Jesus  !" 

Organ — ]\Iarch   Meyerbeer 


THE  CHOIRMASTER'S  ORDINATION 

The  services  of  the  Church  have  always  had  a  pow- 
erful attraction  for  me  ever  since  I  was  old  enough  to 
accompany  my  father  to  the  Sunday  morning  service  in 
the  little  village  church  at  Barlaston,  in  the  diocese  of 
Lichfield.  I  do  not  think,  however,  that  the  possibility  of 
entering  the  ministry  would  ever  have  occurred  to  me 
had  not  Doctor  Little  approached  me  on  the  subject.  I  am 
glad  to  refer  to  Doctor  Little  in  this  connection  for  the 
reason  that  I  once  heard  the  extraordinary  assertion  made 
that  he  was  not  as  much  of  a  missionary  for  the  Church's 
ministry  as  he  might  have  been.  Those  who  knew  him 
and  what  he  stood  for  will  not  entertain  such  a  view  for 
one  moment.  Let  me  speak  from  personal  experience : 
Doctor  Little  had  not  been  at  St.  Mark's  two  years  before 
he  talked  long  and  earnestly  with  me  on  the  subject,  urg- 
ing me  to  gi\e  it  serious  and  prayerful  thought  and  volun- 
teering to  help  me  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  if  I  could 
in  any  way  arrange  my  affairs  so  as  to  enter  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary.  It  was  quite  out  of  the  question 
in  those  days,  and  I  told  the  Doctor  so.  Occasionally, 
during  the  first  ten  years  of  his  work  at  St.  Mark's  he 
would  again  refer  to  the  matter,  but,  finding  my  former 
stand  unchanged,  finally  gave  up.  L^ndoubtedly  my  posi- 
tion as  a  layreader  at  St.  Mark's  from  1892  forward 
served  to  keep  me  from  forgetting  that  with  the  Doctor's 
help  I  might  have  studied  for  Holy  Orders,  but  I  never 
again  gave  much  tliought  to  the  subject  until  the  Rev.  H. 
S.  Longley  became  Rector  of  St.  Mark's. 

When  indications  pointed  to  Doctor  Longley's  leav- 
ing Evanston  for  the  work  of  the  Episcopate  in  Iowa,  I 
openly  expressed  to  him  my  regret  that  he  must  leave  us 
and  that  I  wished  somehow  we  might  still  work  together. 
It  was  then  that  he  threw  out  the  suggestion  that  we  need 
not  be  separated  entirely  if  I  felt  disposed  to  go  out  and 
work  with  him  in  Iowa.  My  admiration  for  him  as  a 
priest  and  my  personal  affection  for  him  as  a  man  may 


have  had  something  to  do  with  my  reconsidering  minis- 
terial work  in  the  Church.  At  any  rate,  I  made  up  my 
mind  that  I  would  follow  him  to  Iowa  and  gave  him  my 
word  that  I  would  do  so.  He  then  took  up  the  matter 
with  Bishop  Morrison  who,  in  deference  to  Doctor  Long- 
ley's  wishes,  signified  his  willingness  to  accept  me  as  a 
postulant  and  to  make  my  studies  as  light  as  he  consist- 
ently could.  Matters  stood  thus  at  the  time  of  Bishop 
Longley's  consecration  and  I  confidently  expected  to  have 
been  with  him  in  Iowa  by  the  following  spring. 

I  think  it  is  quite  generally  known  throughout  St. 
Mark's,  except,  of  course,  by  new-comers,  that  on  ac- 
count of  the  long  and  wearisome  search  for  a  successor 
to  Doctor  Longley  very  many  of  the  duties  in  the  office 
and  in  the  parish  fell  to  my  care.  The  Rev.  G.  D. 
Adams  of  Riverside  used  to  take  the  Sunday  services. 
If  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  so,  I  found  myself  being 
looked  to  more  and  more  to  keep  things  going.  As 
the  months  slipped  by  the  prospects  of  a  new  rector 
seemed  as  remote  as  ever,  and  my  promise  to  Doctor 
Longley  became  to  me  a  source  of  increasing  embar- 
rassment. I  wanted  to  go  out  to  Iowa,  but  I  could  not 
conscientiously  feel  that  I  ought  to  leave  the  parish, 
where  I  had  worked  so  long  at  such  an  inopportune  time, 
especially  as  I  thought  of  the  many  evidences  of  apprecia- 
tion that  had  been  shown  me  before  leaving  for  England 
in  the  summer  of  the  preceding  year.  Finally,  when  in 
August  of  1913,  Bishop  Longley  pressed  for  an  answer 
one  way  or  the  other — as  under  the  circumstances  he  was 
fully  justified  in  doing — I  felt  in  duty  bound  to  remain  at 
St.  Mark's.  Thus,  my  plans  for  work  and  study  in  Iowa 
with  a  view  to  Holy  Orders  had  to  be  laid  aside,  and  I 
relinquished  for  all  time,  as  I  then  supposed,  all  such 
thoughts.  It  seemed  as  though  it  was  not  to  be.  I  have 
an  impression  that  there  were  some  in  St.  Mark's  who 
credited  Bishop  Longley  with  exercising  an  undue  influ- 
ence to  induce  me  to  go  out  to  Iowa.  If  there  ever  were 
any  such  impressions,  I  want  to  say  here  and  now  that 
they  were  altogether  erroneous.  Whatever  overtures 
were  made  at  any  time  in  regard  to  my  taking  up  work 
in  the  diocese  of  Iowa  came  not  from  Doctor  Longley,  but 
84 


from  myself.  It  is  true  that  the  bishop  did  not  throw  cold 
water  upon  my  wishes  to  be  with  him  or  near  him  after 
leaving  St.  Mark's.  Why  should  he  have  done  so?  From 
first  to  last  the  initiative  was  mine.  I  want  to  record  my 
appreciation  of  all  that  Bishop  Longley  was  willing  to  do 
for  me  had  I  been  governed  by  my  own  inclinations  and 
followed  him  to  Iowa. 

I  have  said  that  my  plans  looking  to  the  ministry 
were  given  up  in  1913  and  that  I  never  again  expected  to 
give  them  serious  consideration.  Perhaps  nothing  sur- 
prised me  more  than  when  Doctor  Rogers  called  on  me 
one  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  spring  of  1915  and  asked 
if  I  would  consider  the  permanent  diaconate  at  St.  Mark's. 
I  think  I  went  over  with  him  pretty  thoroughly  my  former 
plans  for  working  with  Bishop  Longley,  and  told  how 
they  fell  through,  and  why.  And  I  believe  I  also  added 
that  since  that  time  I  had  put  the  matter  behind  me.  I 
promised,  however,  to  consider  his  suggestion,  which  per- 
haps appealed  to  me  for  the  reason  that  it  had  to  do  with 
the  very  parish  where  I  had  passed  twenty-six  years  of 
my  life.  In  the  course  of  our  conversation,  I  remember 
the  Doctor  saying  that  should  I  be  ordained  as  deacon 
for  work  at  St.  Mark's  he  would  not  like  to  feel  that  I 
would  consider  myself  open  to  offers  from  outside.  I 
told  him  that  my  plans  for  the  future  were  unsettled,  that 
I  was  hoping  to  return  to  my  home  in  England  for  an  in- 
definite time,  but  that  in  the  event  of  my  being  ordained 
I  would  promise  to  stay  with  him  at  St.  Mark's  not  less 
than  two  years.  I  recall,  too,  that  as  he  was  leaving  our 
house  I  told  him — what  is  just  as  true  today  as  it  was 
then — that  whatever  came  of  his  suggestion  I  was  grate- 
ful to  him  for  having  made  it.  After  giving  the  matter 
due  consideration,  I  decided  to  do  my  best  with  such  pre- 
paratory work  as  was  laid  out  for  me.  In  these  pre- 
paratory studies  Doctor  Rogers  himself  gave  me  no  little 
help  from  a  sick  bed  where  he  lay  for  weeks  as  the 
result  of  a  deplorable  accident  to  his  foot  in  October, 
1915.  Nor  would  I  overlook  the  assistance  I  received 
from  the  Rev.  Theodore  B.  Foster  in  the  summer  of 
1915,  when  he  was  taking  duty  at  St.  Mark's. 


T  had  confidently  hoped  that  my  ordination  might  be 
lield  in  St.  Mark's,  but  the  unusual  demands  upon  Bishop 
Anderson,  who  at  that  time  was  working  single-handed, 
made  this  impossible.  The  Bishop's  decision  to  hold  the 
ordination  at  the  Cathedral  was  a  great  disappointment  to 
me,  nevertheless  if  I  had  been  given  second  choice,  it 
would  certainly  have  been  for  the  Cathedral,  since  I  was 
a  chorister  there  from  the  late  fall  of  1886  until  Febru- 
ary, 1888,  when  I  came  to  St.  Mark's.  I  shall  not  easily 
forget  Doctor  Rogers'  kindness  in  attending  the  ordina- 
tion service  in  Chicago  on  the  Fourth  Sunday  in  Advent, 
December  19th.  at  a  time  when  he  was  barely  able  to 
walk,  even  with  the  help  of  crutches.  Also  it  was  a  real 
pleasure  to  see  among  the  clergy  my  dear  friend  of  many 
years,  the  Rev.  Luther  Pardee  who  was  dean  of  the 
Cathedral  when  I  was  a  chorister  there  in  1886.  The  dean, 
who  was  the  first  clergyman  whom  I  knew  in  Chicago, 
was  good  enough  to  attend  the  ordination  for  the  pur- 
pose of  presenting  me  in  the  event  of  Doctor  Rogers' 
absence.  ( I  want  to  note,  in  connection  with  the  service 
itself,  that  I  shall  always  remember  with  peculiar  satis- 
faction that  the  bishop  who  ordained  me  to  the  diaconate 
was  vested  in  cope  and  mitre.  Let  me  hasten  to  add, 
however,  that  I  attach  no  undue  importance  to  the  use 
of  cope  and  mitre,  in  themselves,  only  I  believe  most 
firmly  that,  inasmuch  as  they  are  part  of  the  ancient  and 
lawful  vestments  of  a  bishop,  they  ought  to  be  in  use  at 
least  on  all  special  occasions,  of  which,  an  ordination 
service  might  well  be  one.)  Since  we  could  not  have  the 
ordination  in  our  own  parish  church.  Doctor  Rogers 
very  thoughtfully  arranged  for  a  special  service  at  St. 
Mark's  on  the  First  Sunday  after  the  Epiphany  (Janu- 
ary 9,  1916),  to  mark  the  e^'ent.  I  give  here  the  Doctor's 
notes  upon  this  special  service  as  they  appeared  in  the 
Lion  of  St.  Mark  for  February,  1916,  also  the  sermon 
which  he  preached  on  that  occasion : 

Recognition  Service 

"On  the  ninth  of  January  the  morning  service  was  so 
arranged  as  to  mark  the  entrance  of  the   Rex.   Robert 


Holmes  upon  his  new  duties  as  Curate.  Through  the 
kindness  of  Air.  Richard  H.  Wyman,  the  sermon  that  I 
preached  was  taken  down,  and  brief  extracts  from  it 
will  be  found  in  another  place.  I  have  often  thought 
that  a  sermon  that  was  worth  preaching  was  not  worth 
printing,  so  much  is  lost  by  the  substitution  of  the  printed 
page  for  the  spoken  word.  But  what  I  said  expresses 
views  that  have  been  growing  stronger  every  year.  There 
are  very  few  parishes  which  need  two  men  of  the  same 
kind  to  carry  on  the  same  kind  of  work.  But  the  rector 
of  almost  any  parish  can  find  abundant  use  for  a  col- 
league whose  abilities  supplement  his  own,  and  help  to 
make  up  his  deficiencies.  While  a  temporary  Diaconate 
may  be  necessary  to  preserve  the  ancient  traditions  of 
the  Church,  it  is  of  very  little  practical  value.  But  a 
permanent  Diaconate  filled  by  such  men  as  are  described 
in  the  Book  of  Acts,  and  making  it  their  business  to  do 
the  work  which  the  Apostles  found  it  so  hard  to  do,  can 
hardly  fail  to  be  of  the  very  greatest  service. 

At  the  afternoon  service  on  the  same  day  there  was  a 
reunion  of  many  of  the  choristers  who  had  served  as  choir 
boys  during  Mr.  Holmes'  long  association  with  the  choir. 
More  than  fifty  were  present  in  vestments,  which  we  were 
able  to  provide  for  all  our  visitors  through  the  kindly 
assistance  of  St.  Luke's.  There  was  a  festival  proces- 
sion about  the  church,  which  was  especially  notable  to 
me  because  I  was  able  to  take  part  in  it.  The  sermon 
was  preached  by  JMr.  Holmes  on  the  place  of  music  in 
public  worship.  While  preaching  is  not  among  the  chief 
duties  of  a  Deacon,  we  need  have  no  fear  that  our  par- 
ticular Deacon,  when  he  is  called  upon,  will  not  be  equal 
to  this  task." 

The  Order  of  Deacons 

(From  a  sermon  preached  at  St.  Mark's  by  the  Rector  on 
January  gth,  1916,  in  recognition  of  the  Ordination  of  the  Rev. 
Robert  Holmes.) 

Wherefore,  brethren,  look  ye  out  among  you  seven  men  of 
honest  report,  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of  wisdom,  whom 
we  may  appoint  over  this  business. — Acts  vi.  3. 


In  this  verse  we  have  the  charter  of  the  Order  of 
Deacons.  That  had  happened  to  the  disciples  which 
happened  to  so  many  who  have  followed  in  their  foot- 
steps in  later  days.  They  were  distressed  and  hindered  by 
the  multitude  and  variety  of  the  work  which  pressed  it- 
self upon  them,  and  presently  one  said  to  another:  "It 
is  not  reason  that  we  should  leave  the  word  of  God,  and 
serve  tables."  Not,  indeed,  that  serving  tables  was  of  less 
repute  and  dignity  than  any  other  sort  of  work;  but  they 
had  been  marked  and  chosen  for  a  special  task,  and  we 
cannot  wonder  that  they  chafed  when  they  found  them- 
selves called  away  from  the  very  things  for  which  they 
had  been  fitted  by  training  and  by  disposition,  and  set  at 
work  for  which  their  aptitude  and  liking  may  have  been 
very  small.  "We  will  give  ourselves  continually  to 
prayer,  and  to  the  ministry  of  the  word."  Whatever  stood 
in  the  way  of  this  was  an  embarrassment.  And  so  they 
looked  out  among  them  men  of  honest  report,  who  were 
already  well  known  in  the  community ;  men  full  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  of  wisdom,  whose  judgment  was  sound, 
both  in  spiritual  and  material  things ;  and  set  them  apart 
to  be  their  helpers.  They  were  not  to  divide  with  the 
apostles  what  was  the  apostles'  proper  work;  but  they 
were  to  supplement  and  enlarge  it,  and  by  their  help  to 
save  the  time  and  strength  of  those  whose  colleagues  and 
associates  they  were  called  to  be. 

In  the  Preface  to  the  Ordinal  we  have  this  state- 
ment :  "It  is  evident  unto  all  men,  diligently  reading  Holy 
Scripture  and  ancient  authors,  that  from  the  earliest 
time  there  have  been  these  orders  of  ministers  in  Christ's 
Church — Bishops,  Priests  and  Deacons."  But  there  are 
many  men  who  do  not  diligently  read  Holy  Scripture  and 
ancient  authors,  who  have  scarcely  heard  whether  there 
be  any  such  thing  as  a  Deacon  at  all.  The  parish  priest 
they  know,  for  they  see  him  as  he  goes  about  his  work. 
The  Bishop  they  know.  He  straightens  things  out  if  they 
need  straightening,  and  smoothens  them  down  if  they 
need  smoothing.  Now  and  again  he  visits  the  parish  to 
confirm  and  preach.  But  the  Deacon  is  no  such  familiar 
figure.    He  is  no  inevitable  part  of  the  usual  ecclesiastical 


organization.  If  we  think  of  him  at  all,  it  is  as  a  young 
man  who  has  just  graduated  from  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary, and  who  is  trying  to  get  the  Standing  Committee 
to  shorten  his  time  in  the  Diaconate  so  that  he  may  be  ad- 
vanced to  the  Priesthood.  He  is  of  honest  report,  of 
course,  so  far  as  he  is  of  any  report  at  all.  We  know 
nothing  against  him.  But  in  most  cases,  from  the  nature 
of  the  matter,  there  has  been  no  opportunity  for  him  to 
make  any  mark  upon  his  community.  He  is  a  novice, 
waiting  for  the  experience  which  no  special  study,  nor 
gifts,  nor  virtues — which  nothing  but  the  rolling  years 
will  bring.  He  may  be  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  but  as 
for  wisdom  that  walks  hand  in  hand  with  experience.  It 
is  a  fault  in  youth  if  it  is  over-wise.  I  have  sometimes 
wondered  if  it  was  not  a  fault  against  which  our  youth- 
ful deacons  do  not  take  sufficient  pains  to  guard  them- 
selves. 

But  in  the  Book  of  Acts,  there  is  no  suggestion  that 
the  deacon  will  ordinarily  be  a  stripling,  or  that  his  office 
is  a  temporary  one.  He  is  not  an  apostle  in  the  making. 
He  is  to  broaden  and  widen  the  apostle's  work.  In 
Protestant  churches,  the  Deacon  is  a  layman ;  and  what- 
ever protests  against  the  heresy  that  a  layman's  only  duty 
towards  the  Church  is  to  support  it  is  well  worth  while. 
In  our  own  Communion,  the  Deacon  seems  to  be  largely 
what  we  choose  to  make  him.  If  we  make  his  office  only 
a  stepping  stone  to  something  else,  it  is  small  wonder  if 
it  loses  much  of  its  distinctiveness  and  its  distinction. 

We  are  to  have  at  St.  Mark's  a  Deacon  after  the 
apostolic  pattern.  I  may  say  frankly  that  I  should  not 
want  a  colleague  whose  abilities  and  duties  were  exactly 
like  my  own.  Whatever  I  have  in  the  way  of  strength 
and  training  belongs  to  the  parish  and  to  the  community 
in  which  I  live.  But  the  shortness  of  time  presses  on 
every  man.  He  leaves  undone  much  that  he  would  like  to 
do  for  no  other  reason  than  that  he  cannot  crowd  it  in. 
There  are  many  useful  things  that  I  do  very  badly,  and 
others  that  I  cannot  do  at  all.  I  should  not  want  a  man 
to  do  my  work  for  me.  I  have  not  the  grace  to  live 
with  a  man  whose  task  it  should  be  to  point  out  to  me 
the  way  in  which  I  ought  to  do  my  work.     But  it  is  a 


great  thing  to  feel  that  one  has  reinforcements  and  alHes. 
It  is  often  charged  against  the  ministry  that  its  service 
is  disproportioned  and  distracted.  A  real  diaconate  would 
do  much  to  relieve  it  of  this  charge.  Our  own  Deacon  is 
of  the  sort  that  St.  Luke  describes.  He  is  of  honest 
report  in  a  parish  that  has  known  him  for  five  and  twenty 
years.  In  the  business  world  he  has  known  how  to  main- 
tain a  spiritual  outlook  upon  life.  He  lacks  the  training 
which  comes  only  from  the  Theological  School,  and  which 
for  our  priests  is  well-nigh  indispensable;  but  he  has 
studied  in  the  school  of  experience,  and  he  knows  men, 
and  boys.  Even  in  these  few  weeks,  he  has  opened  the 
way  to  me  for  greater  service. 

Arise,  shine,  for  thy  light  is  come;  and  the  glory  of 
the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee.  Words  like  these  must  sound 
in  the  ears  of  every  man  who  is  called  to  go  forward  to 
some  new  work,  especially  when  the  work  is  of  a  spiri- 
tual kind.  We  must  arise  and  do  what  God  has  set  be- 
fore us ;  and  with  the  arising  there  comes  the  shining  of 
such  a  light  as  never  shone  on  sea  or  land,  because  it  is 
a  light  which  comes  from  heavenly  regions.  The  glory 
of  the  Lord  has  risen  upon  us  if  we  can  feel  that  our 
opportunity  is  His.  And  must  we  not  feel  so,  if  we  know 
that  we  are  giving  ourselves  to  do  His  work? 


Cfjoirmagterg  anb  ©rganis^tg 


Chapter  IV 


John  Evans 

Williams  Graves 

Charles  M,  Kirk 

John  C.  Dunster 

James  Watson 

Charles  R.  Adams 

Curtis  A.  Barry 

Louis  N.  Dodge 

Stanley  A.  IN'Iartin 

Robert  Holmes 


91 


Cijapter  Jfour 

CHOIRMASTERS  AND  ORGANISTS 

The  early  records  of  St.  Mark's  parish  show  that 
the  music  of  the  services  was  generally  led  by  quartette, 
though  occasionally,  and  as  it  would  seem  for  economy's 
sake,  by  a  precentor.  The  singing  was  accompanied  by 
a  small  reed  organ  until  the  days  of  the  Rev.  Frederick 
W.  Jewell,  when  a  pipe  organ,  built  by  the  Moline  Organ 
Company,  of  Moline,  Illinois,  was  installed  in  the  year 
1884,  at  a  cost  of  $1,550.00.  Doctor  Jewell  generously 
accords  great  credit  to  his  predecessor,  the  Rev.  J. 
Stewart-Smith,  for  most  valuable  work  in  the  parish  and 
as  placing  the  services  on  a  better  and  higher  plane  than 
before.  It  would  seem  that  in  justice  to  Doctor  Jewell 
himself,  his  own  efforts  to  introduce  a  boy  choir,  as  more 
in  keeping  with  the  services  of  the  Church,  should  not 
pass  unrecognized,  for  he  organized  such  a  choir,  though 
it  was  not  vested  in  cotta  and  cassock.  Apparently,  this 
first  boy  choir  of  St.  Mark's  was  but  shortlived,  and  a  re- 
turn to  the  quartette  followed.  It  is  worthy  of  note,  how- 
ever, that  within  less  than  two  years  after  Doctor  Jewell's 
resignation  a  vested  choir  took  its  place  in  the  services 
of  St.  Mark's  on  the  afternoon  of  Witsunday,  May  29th, 
1887,  during  the  rectorate  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Hayward, 
nor  was  there  any  further  thought  of  again  reverting  to 

93 


the  old  order  of  things.  The  boys  of  the  new  choir  had 
been  rehearsing  for  a  number  of  months  under  Mr.  John 
Evans,  formerly  of  Liverpool,  England.  Mr.  Evans  was 
a  thorough  musician,  the  possessor  of  an  unusually  fine 
bass  voice,  and  had  been  associated  with  the  music  of  St. 
Nicholas'  church  in  that  city.  The  organist  at  this  time 
was  Mr.  William  Graves,  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the 
Northwestern  University  School  of  Music.  Mr.  Graves 
was  a  genial,  kindly  soul,  full  of  witty  stories  and  with 
an  irrepressible  inclination  to  relate  them  at  the  most  in- 
opportune times.  As  an  organist  he  accompanied  accept- 
ably such  music  as  the  choir  in  his  day  could  render,  but 
he  would  have  by  no  means  been  equal  to  the  require- 
ments of  our  services  for  more  than  twenty  years  past. 
It  is  of  interest  to  record  that  of  the  six  organists  at  St. 
Mark's  since  the  Moline  organ  was  put  in  in  1884,  four 
of  that  number  have  been  associated  with  the  North- 
western School  of  Music.  When  I  say  that  I  know  of  no 
better  illustration  of  the  improvement  in  musical  stan- 
dards at  our  local  University  under  Doctor  Peter  C.  Lut- 
kin  than  a  comparison  between  the  work  of  Mr.  Graves 
in  1887  and  that  of  our  present  organist,  Mr.  Stanley  A. 
Martin, — who  also  is  of  the  faculty  at  Northwestern — I 
merely  state  a. fact  and  would  not  for  a  moment  convey 
the  impression  that  I  speak  disparagingly  of  Mr.  Graves, 
for  my  relations  with  him  were  always  most  cordial. 


The  services  of  the  writer  as  choirmaster  were  first 
called  for  in  a  temporary  capacity  in  February,  1888,  Mr. 
Evans'  business  as  foreign  buyer  for  Armour  and  Com- 
pany having  taken  him  over  to  England  for  a  few  months. 
The  vestry  felt,  in  view  of  these  ocean  trips,  which  came 
round  semi-annually,  that  Mr.  Evans'  usefulness  in  his 
choir  work  at  St.  Mark's  would  be  seriously  impaired  and 
I  was  asked  to  asume  entire  charge. 

On  All  Saints'  Day  of  this  same  year  the  Rev.  Arthuf 
W.  Little,  of  St.  Paul's  church,  Portland,  Maine,  became 
rector,  and  I  well  remember  that  his  plans  for  the  music 
of  the  services  were  so  far  in  advance  of  the  very  modest 
standard  he  found  at  St.  Mark's  that  I  felt  quite  unequal 


ROBERT   HOLMES 
Choirmaster,   February,   1888 


to  carrying  them  out.  About  this  time,  too,  I  had  been 
planning  to  move  to  Llewellyn  Park,  some  two  miles 
north  of  Evanston,  so  I  told  Doctor  Little  that  under  the 
circumstances  I  preferred  resigning  whenever  he  could 
meet  with  a  suitable  person  to  fill  the  vacancy.  This,  as 
I  recall,  was  in  the  spring  of  1890.  During  the  summer 
the  rector  learned  of  Mr.  Charles  M.  Kirk,  a  young  choir- 
master and  organist  who  was  studying  for  Holy  Orders 
at  the  Western  Theological  Seminary.  Mr.  Kirk  was 
offered  and  accepted  the  position  of  choirmaster  at  St. 
-Mark's  until  the  following  Easter,  when,  in  order  to 
secure  a  continuance  of  his  services,  he  was  engaged  as 
choirmaster  and  organist  from  Easter,  1891  to  Easter 
1892.  This  arrangement  necessitated  releasing  Professor 
Graves  as  organist,  and  I  remember  how  very  badly  he 
felt  over  it.  It  was  during  Mr.  Kirk's  term  of  office  that 
the  new  St.  Mark's  church  was  opened.  The  choir  in- 
creased in  numbers  rapidly  and  the  music  generally  rep- 
resented a  much  more  ambitious  standard  than  before. 
Mr.  Kirk  resigned  when  his  year's  contract  had  expired 
and  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  John  C.  Dunster,  an  elderly 
Englishman,  whose  son  was  at  that  time  playing  at  the 
Cathedral  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Dunster,  Senior,  of  marked 
ability  as  an  organist,  seemed  to  look  upon  the  services 
as  affording  a  convenient  means  for  musical  exploitation. 
At  least,  that  was  the  way  he  impressed  me. 

I  ought  to  mention  here  that,  owing  to  the  many 
calls  upon  Doctor  Little  incident  to  the  building  of  the 
new  church,  he  was  granted  a  leave  of  absence  from 
January,  1892,  to  the  close  of  the  following  Septem- 
ber. While  the  rector  was  away  the  Rev.  Wyllys 
Rede,  D.D.,  officiated  as  hcitui  teuens.  I  often  used 
to  wonder  what  would  happen  upon  Doctor  Little's 
return,  for  I  felt  sure  that  he  would  not  take  kindly 
to  the  idea  of  the  service  being  subordinate  to  the 
music.  Mr.  Dunster  had  made  elaborate  preparations 
for  the  first  Sunday  in  October,  when  Doctor  Little 
resumed  charge.  He  had  engaged  a  quartette  of  brass, 
and.  as  an  opening  to  the  Eucharist,  they  gave  a  fine 
rendition  of  the  first  part  of  the  overture  to  Mendels- 


sohns'  "Hymn  of  Praise."  At  the  Communion  of  the 
people,  Mr.  Dunster,  as  aforetime,  feehng  that  this  was 
an  especially  favorable  time  for  improvisation,  made  the 
most  of  it.  I  instinctively  felt  what  was  coming.  The 
rector  quietly  motioned  to  Mr.  Dunster  to  subdue  the 
organ.  Whether  this  was  misunderstood  I  cannot  say, 
but  there  was  no  change  apparent.  Presently,  Doctor 
Little's  voice  was  heard  in  a  quiet  but  firm  tone — "Please 
stop  the  organ."  And  there  was  no  further  playing  that 
morning  until  the  Gloria  in  excelsis,  nor  was  there  any 
further  intrusion  of  the  organ  from  that  time  forward. 
Mr.  Dunster's  engagement  as  choirmaster  and  organist 
ran  to  Easter  1893,  but  he  resigned  quite  abruptly  just 
before  Christmas  of  the  previous  year.  I  always  admired 
his  skill  at  the  keyboard,  but  his  execution  was  far  too 
brilliant  for  my  liking  as  an  organist  of  the  Church,  and 
his  work  had  all  the  characteristics  of  the  concert  organist. 
His  selections  of  music  for  the  choir  in  the  way  of  an- 
thems were  good,  but  rather  beyond  their  powers.  He 
generally  managed,  however,  to  carry  them  through  by 
his  extremely  clever  work  at  the  organ. 

Perhaps  some  may  wonder  how  I  happen  to  be  so 
familiar  with  choir  events  seeing  that  I  was  no  longer 
choirmaster,  or  living  in  Evanston.  Here  is  the  reason. 
When  I  resigned  charge  of  the  choir  in  the  fall  of  1890, 
Doctor  Little  would  not  hear  of  my  dropping  out  entirely, 
but  insisted  on  my  keeping  up  a  connection  with  the  choir 
and  singing  in  the  chancel  on  Sundays.  I  found  it  use- 
less to  ask  to  be  excused,  Doctor  Little  would  accept 
nothing  less  than  my  consent  to  his  suggestion.  Finally, 
I  gave  my  promise  and  kept  it,  but  only  those  who  have 
occupied  a  similar  position  can  fully  realize  how  embar- 
rassing it  proved  at  times. 

After  Mr.  Dunster's  resignation,  I  was  asked  by  the 
rector  if  I  would  not  again  take  charge  of  the  choir.  I 
believe  I  am  fully  justified  in  stating  that  there  was  a  gen- 
eral dissatisfaction  with  the  music  and  equally  so  with 
the  morale  of  the  choir,  but  on  account  of  my  promise  to 
Doctor  Little  I  sat  under  the  conditions,  powerless  to 
improve  them,  nor  did  I  feel,  as  a  former  choirmaster. 


that  I  could  atiford  to  criticize.  In  view  of  all  this,  added 
to  the  fact  that  I  was  about  to  return  to  Evanston,  I 
promised  to  consider  the  proposal.  During  our  conversa- 
tion, Doctor  Little  told  me  of  a  petition  from  the  men 
and  boys  of  the  choir,  addressed  to  the  rector  and  vestry, 
requesting  that  I  be  approached  in  regard  to  resuming  my 
work  as  choirmaster.  I  think  I  may  safely  say  that  this 
evidence  of  the  confidence  of  the  men  and  boys  influenced 
my  decision  more  than  any  other  one  thing.  I  had  re- 
signed as  choirmaster  in  October.  1890,  having  held  that 
office  two  and  a  half  years.  After  rather  more  than  two 
years  as  a  chorister,  under  two  choirmasters,  I  returned 
to  my  former  position  in  January,  1893.  My  entire  ser- 
^■ice  with  the  choir  and  parish  of  St.  Mark's  exceeds  thirty 
years — February  1888  to  June  1918 — nearly  twenty- 
eight  of  which  the  music  was  under  my  direction  as  choir- 
master. 

Until  the  appointment  of  an  organist  as  successor  to 
Mr.  Dunster,  the  services  were  accompanied  by  Mr. 
Charles  P.  Englemann,  who  was  at  one  time  associated 
with  the  choir  of  St.  Jude's,  Bradford,  England.  Mr. 
Englemann  was  full  of  love  for  the  services  of  the  Church 
and  was  never  happier  than  when  assisting  at  the  organ 
in  the  absence  of  the  regular  organist.  I  remember  with 
gratefulness  his  help  in  those  early  days.  If  I  may  digress 
for  a  moment,  I  would  mention  that  one  of  the  most 
artistic  windows  in  the  north  aisle  of  St.  Mark's — "Ruth 
and  Naomi" — is  a  memorial  to  Mr.  Englemann's  first 
wife. 


Mr.  James  Watson,  formerly  of  St.  Xinian's,  Perth, 
Scotland,  was  appointed  organist  in  February,  1893.  I 
go  back  in  thought  to  his  short  term  of  service  at  St. 
Mark's  and  think  with  pleasure  of  his  organ  work  which 
was  of  the  typical  English  school.  His  skill  as  an  organist, 
seen  at  its  best  in  his  accompaniment  of  the  service,  re- 
minded one  much  of  the  best  of  English  parish  churches 
or  cathedrals.  His  familiarity  with  the  Psalter  made  the 
singing  of  the  Psalms  a  constant  delight,  and  his  free 
accompaniments   to    some    of    the    old    hymn   tunes — St. 


Anne's,  Duke  Street,  Adeste  fi deles  and  the  like — were 
something  one  could  not  easily  forget.  We  were  for- 
tunate enough  to  secure  his  services  at  St.  Mark's  just 
when  we  did,  because  he  had  recently  come  to  Chicago 
and  was  willing  to  accept  a  small  organ  position  tem- 
porarily until  he  became  better  known.  While  thoroughly 
appreciating  his  work,  I  had  an  ever-present  feeling  that 
we  would  never  hold  him,  it  was  therefore  with  little 
surprise  but  with  a  good  deal  of  regret  that  I  learned  at 
the  expiration  of  his  year's  engagement  that  he  had  been 
offered  a  much  better  position  at  the  Church  of  the  Epi- 
phany, Chicago,  where,  as  organist,  he  worked  with  Mr. 
Edgar  C.  Lawton  as  choirmaster. 

Singularly  enough,  Mr.  Watson  was  succeeded  at  St. 
Mark's  by  his  predecessor  at  the  Epiphany,  Mr.  Charles 
R.  Adams.  I  first  met  Mr.  Adams  in  the  winter  of  1886, 
when  he  was  organist  at  the  Cathedral  of  SS.  Peter  and 
Paul,  Chicago,  and  I  was  a  member  of  the  choir  there. 
His  coming  to  St.  Mark's  in  February,  1894,  was  to  me 
like  renewing  acquaintance  with  an  old  friend.  As  an 
organist,  Mr.  Adams  was  by  no  means  the  equal  of  his 
predecessor,  and  at  first  I  think  the  good  people  of  St. 
Mark's  were  disappointed  in  not  finding  in  him  a  second 
Mr.  Watson,  and  he  worked  under  the  same  serious 
handicap  at  the  Epiphany,  where  he  followed  one  of  the 
most  talented  organists  in  America,  Doctor  J.  H.  Gower. 
It  soon  became  apparent,  however,  that  what  our  new 
organist  lacked  in  brilliancy  and  techinque  he  more  than 
made  up  in  an  accompaniment  which,  while  not  of  an  am- 
bitious character,  was  at  all  times  marked  by  painstaking 
care,  steadiness  and  helpfulness.  As  a  m.an,  there  was  an 
utter  absence  of  the  unreal  in  his  make-up.  He  was 
nothing  if  not  sincere  and  genuine.  He  was  a  most  devout 
Churchman,  with  a  grasp  such  as  few  organists  possess 
of  the  real  significance  of  the  Holy  Communion.  This 
side  of  Mr.  Adams  was  alwavs  in  evidence  in  his  accom- 
paniments at  the  Choral  Eucharist.  There  is  no  service 
of  the  Church,  which  affords  such  an  opportunity  to  the 
gifted  organist  and  in  which  so  many  capable  musicians 
allow   themselves   to   be   carried   beyond   all   reasonable 


ST.  MARK'S  CHURCH 
(Chiefl.v  on  the  North   Side) 


limits  until  the  service  itself  becomes  a  secondary  con- 
sideration to  them.  I  have  given  one  such  instance  in  the 
case  of  an  earlier  organist  of  St.  Mark's.  Mr.  Adams 
never  failed  to  exercise  a  proper  amount  of  restraint  at 
the  Choral  Eucharist,  and  his  accompaniments  were  for 
that  very  reason  churchly  and  devotional. 

As  bearing  upon  this  point,  I  am  glad  to  make  men- 
tion of  the  following:  Not  very  long  after  Mr.  Adams' 
death,  one  of  our  late  and  most  esteemed  parishioners, 
Mr.  Thomas  C.  Moore,  wrote  me  of  his  impressions 
of  a  certain  organist  to  whom  he  had  listened  many 
times.  Evidently  Mr.  Moore  had  been  drawing  com- 
parisons which  were  in  favor  of  Mr.  Adams,  for,  in 
the  course  of  his  letter  he  uses  this  expression — "Our 
good  friend  Adams  never  intruded  the  organ."  This 
opinion  of  Mr.  Moore's  sums  up  all  I  would  say.  Mr. 
Adams  was  taken  ill  with  typhoid  in  August,  1902, 
from  the  lingering  effects  of  which  he  died  on  No- 
vember 28th.  He  was  buried  from  the  Cathedral  in 
Chicago,  the  service  being  sung  by  St.  Mark's  choir. 
A  special  memorial  service  was  held  at  St.  Mark's 
Church  on  the  Second  Sunday  in  Advent,  Decemxber  7th. 
The  hymns, — O,  what  the  joy  and  the  glory  must  be, — 
Jerusalem  the  golden, — and,  Ten  thousand  times  ten 
thousand — were  all  favorites  with  Mr.  Adams.  The 
anthem  after  the  Third  Collect  was  Baldwin's,  Tarry  with 
me,  O  my  Saviour  ;  at  the  close  of  the  Office,  Gaul's  Blessed 
are  the  departed,  from  "The  Passion,"  and  at  the  Offer- 
tory, the  solo  from  Mendelssohn's  "St.  Paul,"  "Be  thou 
faithful  unto  death."  The  Baldwin  anthem,  while  singu- 
larly appropriate,  was  selected  as  having  been  sung  at  the 
last  service  for  which  Mr.  Adams  played,  i.  e.,  St.  Bartho- 
lomew's Day  (August  24th)  which  in  1902  coincided  with 
the  Thirteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity.  Mr.  Adams'  name 
and  work  is  perpetuated  by  a  window  in  the  north  aisle  — 
the  gift  of  choristers  and  friends  of  St.  Mark's,  also  of 
many  friends  in  Chicago — which  was  unveiled  and  blessed 
by  Doctor  Little  on  the  afternoon  of  the  following  Whit- 
sunday, the  sixteenth  anniversary  of  the  choir.  The  win- 
dow— "David  the  Shepherd" — as  suggested  by  the 
Twenty-third  Psalm,  bears  the  following  inscription : 


"To  the  glory  of  God  and  in  loving  memory  of 
Charles  Roland  Adams,  for  eight  years  the  faithful  organ- 
ist of  this  church.  Born  July  22,  1860.  Entered  into  rest 
November  28,  1902.   R.  L  P." 

"The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd,  therefore  can  I  lack 
nothing." 

Before  closing  this  tribute  to  Mr.  Adams,  I  ought  to 
acknowledge  the  kindness  of  Doctor  P.  C.  Lutkin,  Dean 
of  the  Northwestern  School  of  Music,  in  playing  for 
Evensong  during  the  whole  of  Mr.  Adams'  illness,  and  I 
recall  that  he  did  so  at  times  much  to  his  own  incon- 
\enience.  At  the  morning  service  we  used  to  get  along 
with  sucii  music  as  I  was  equal  to  accompanying,  and  with 
Doctor  Lutkin's  help  at  Evensong,  the  parish  was  willing 
to  keep  Mr.  Adams'  full  stipend  going  until  the  end  of 
November.  I  am  not  sure  whether  Doctor  Lutkin  real- 
ized to  what  extent  he  contributed  to  this,  but  I  know  how 
much  Mr.  Adams  thought  of  what  was  done  for  him. 
While  referring  to  Dean  Lutkin  I  desire  to  express  my 
appreciation  of  his  constant  interest  in  the  music  at  St. 
Clark's  ever  since  he  made  his  home  in  Evanston,  and  my 
own  personal  indebtedness  to  him,  not  once  or  twice,  but 
time  and  again  in  the  course  of  years,  for  his  willingness 
to  accompany  services  at  a  moment's  notice  in  order  to 
help  us  out  of  a  tight  place. 

The  vacancy  caused  by  ^Ir.  Adams'  death  was  filled 
by  Mr.  Curtis  A.  Barry,  who  came  to  us  from  St.  James's, 
Chicago,  in  December,  1902,  soon  after  that  parish  de- 
cided to  unite  the  offices  of  choirmaster  and  organist 
under  ]\lr.  Clarence  Dickinson.  Mr.  Barry's  knowledge 
of  the  services  and  music  of  the  Church  he  owed  in  large 
part  to  the  Rev.  Charles  A.  Holbrook,  a  warm  friend  of 
Doctor  Little,  who  for  many  years  was  Rector  of  Trinity 
Church.  Aurora,  Illinois,  and  who  still  resides  in  that 
town.  From  a  boy  under  Mr.  Holbrook,  Mr.  Barry  be- 
came, in  course  of  time,  his  choirmaster  and  organist. 
Mr.  Barry  was  with  us  at  St.  Mark's  from  December, 
1902,  until  September  30th,  1906,  when  he  resigned  to 
take  entire  charge  of  the  music  at  the  Eirst  Methodist 
Episcopal   church    at   Ravenswood,    Illinois.      Our   choir 


library  was  the  richer  for  several  suggestions  as  to  an- 
thems, made  by  Mr.  Barry,  through,  I  think,  his  con- 
nection with  St.  James's,  Chicago,  and  used  for  the  first 
time  at  St.  Mark's  while  he  was  with  us.  He  was  one 
of  the  best  organists  that  we.  or  any  of  our  churches  in 
Chicago  ever  had.  For  years  past  we  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  singing  Gounod's  "Gallia"  at  the  afternoon  ser- 
vice on  Quinquagesima  Sunday.  Long  after  Mr.  Barry 
left  St.  Mark's,  I  was  always  drawn  to  think  of  him  on 
that  particular  Sunday,  because  of  the  Gounod  music,  for 
though  handicapped  with  a  small  two-manual  organ,  he 
used  to  play  the  "Gallia"  wonderfully  and  as  though  he 
had  a  special  liking  for  the  work.  It  was  a  marvel  to  me 
how  he  could  do  so  much  with  such  limited  resources.  I 
remember  asking  him  to  make  his  own  choice  of  the  music 
for  his  last  service  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Sixteenth 
Sunday  after  Trinity.  He  selected  Foster's  Magnificat 
and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  A,  and  for  the  anthem,  Sullivan's 
fine  setting  of  "Who  is  like  unto  Thee.  O  Lord?"  The 
following  "In  Memoriam''  by  his  friend,  Mr.  Dodge,  was 
printed  in  the  Lion  of  St.  Mark  for  April,  1911  :   .  .    .  . 

"Mr.  Curtis  Abel  Barry,  for  three  years.  1903-1906, 
organist  at  St.  ^Mark's,  died  at  his  Evanston  residence 
Wednesday  morning,  March  16th.  On  account  of  ill 
health  Mr.  Barry  gave  up  his  musical  activities  in  Janu- 
ary. 1910.  He  was  organist  and  musical  director  at  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  Evanston  ;  musical  director  of 
the  Ravenswood  Musical  Club,  having  succeeded  Dean 
Lutkin  upon  his  resignation  in  1905.  and  assistant  musical 
director  of  the  Chicago  North  Shore  Festival  Associa- 
tion, and  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  University 
School  of  Music. 

"Mr.  Barry  was  born  Sept.  5,  1875,  at  Aurora,  111., 
where  he  received  his  early  musical  education,  later  serv- 
ing as  organist  and  choirmaster  at  Trinity  Church.  Mr. 
Barry  studied  organ  under  Dean  Lutkin  and  was  a 
student  in  the  Northwestern  University  School  of  Music, 
from  which  he  received  his  degree.  For  some  time  he  had 
been  a  member  of  the  faculty  as  instructor  of  organ.  Mr. 
Barrv  had  held  various  important  church  positions,  having 


been  organist  and  choirmaster  at  the  Cathedral  at  Fond 
du  Lac  and  organist  at  St.  James's  and  St.  Peter's  Chi- 
cago. While  organist  at  St.  Mark's,  Evanston,  he  also 
trained  with  much  success  the  choir  of  St.  Simon's 
Church,  Chicago.  After  serving  St.  Mark's,  Evanston, 
for  three  years,  he  left  in  September,  1906,  for  the  Rav- 
enswood  M.  E.  Church  organ  and  choir.  Soon  after  that 
he  accepted  his  last  organ  position  at  the  First  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  Evanston. 

Mr.  Barry  was  more  than  commonly  gifted  musi- 
cally, and  had  long  since  become  broadly  educated  in  his 
art.  Besides  having  an  enviable  reputation  as  an  organist 
and  accompanist,  he  had  won  recognition  as  a  successful 
conductor  of  choral  societies.  Just  as  his  efficiency  and 
personality  has  won  for  him  many  friends  here  at  St. 
Mark's,  so  in  the  many  quarters  in  which  he  exercised  his 
talents  there  are  those  who  will  miss  him  and  remember 
with  afifection  his  lofty  ideals  and  enthusiasm  in  promot- 
ing musical  activities  of  a  worthy  type." 

May  he  rest  in  peace. 

I  have  referred  to  the  two-manual  organ  of  Mr. 
Barry's  days.  It  was  the  same  instrument  which  had  been 
built  by  the  Moline  Organ  Company  and  set  up  in  1884. 
Undoubtedly  it  was  a  great  improvement  over  the  small 
reed  organ  which  up  to  that  time  had  been  used  to  accom- 
pany the  singing,  but  I  never  could  understand  how  any 
one  could  enthuse  over  its  good  parts.  And  I  knew  it 
less  than  three  years  after  it  was  built.  All  our  organists, 
from  Mr.  Watson  forward,  were  constantly  bemoaning 
the  fact  that  they  were  expected  to  accompany  a  choral 
service  with  so  second-rate  an  instrument.  As  early  as 
1893,  there  was  talk  of  remedying  conditions,  and  with 
the  rector's  approval  the  weekly  offering  of  the  Choir — 
for  we  used  to  take  up  such  an  offering  in  those  days — 
formed  the  nucleus  of  a  new  organ  fund.  In  1897  the 
interest  of  the  rector  and  vestry  was  sufficiently  aroused 
to  appropriate  the  offerings  on  the  following  Whitsunday 
towards  the  new  organ  project.  There  was  no  concerted 
action  taken,  however,  in  the  way  of  soliciting  special 
offerings  throughout  the  parish,  other  than  by  a  circular 


letter,  it  will  therefore  not  surprise  those  of  us  who  are 
aware  that  the  average  of  our  most  important  offering  of 
the  year,  on  Easter  Day,  is  usually  around  the  thousand 
mark,  to  learn  that  the  special  offering  for  the  new  organ 
did  not  reach  two  hundred  dollars.  The  result  was  dis- 
couraging, nevertheless  the  choir  still  continued  its  weekly 
offering  of  dimes,  nickles  and  pennies  with  an  occasional 
quarter,  and  by  1907  the  fund  had  risen  to  between  eight 
and  nine  hundred  dollars. 

In  the  spring  of  that  year  announcement  was  made 
that  the  interior  of  Steinway  Hall,  Chicago,  was  to  be 
remodelled  and  that  the  Roosevelt  organ  which  had 
been  put  in  some  ten  years  before  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.00 
was  to  be  sold  for  $1,800.00  plus  the  cost  of  taking 
down  and  removal.  The  opportunity  seemed  too  good 
to  be  lost.  The  rector  and  vestry  were  disposed  to 
consider  the  purchase,  all  the  more  readily,  perhaps, 
because  Dean  Lutkin  heartily  favored  such  action  and 
that  I  had  personally  secured  a  thousand  dollars  in 
pledges  which  with  the  amount  in  our  choir  fund 
covered  the  actual  purchase  price.  I  remember  how  de- 
lighted I  was  when  arrangements  were  finally  closed  to 
take  over  the  organ,  and  I  realized  that  there  was  no  pos- 
sibihty  of  the  vestry  going  back  upon  its  decision.  The 
organ  built  by  Roosevelt  was  one  of  the  first  instruments 
turned  out  with  electric  action,  in  which  respect  it  was 
looked  upon  as  a  distinct  advance  over  the  average  organ 
of  its  day.  But  at  that  time  the  use  of  electricity,  as 
applied  to  organ  playing,  was  so  original,  so  new  and  radi- 
cal a  venture,  that  it  was  not  sufficiently  understood,  and 
the  consequence  was  that  an  organist  often  found  himself 
in  a  most  perplexing  and  helpless  situation.  I  mention  in 
passing  that  this  Steinway  Hall  organ  had  established  a 
reputation  for  itself  of  being  balky.  Directly  after  Easter 
Day,  1907,  the  old  organ  was  removed  from  St.  Mark's 
and  sold  to  the  Church  of  the  Advent,  Chicago,  where  I 
believe  it  is  still  in  use.  The  work  of  installing  the  new 
instrument — new,  at  least,  so  far  as  St.  Mark's  was  con- 
cerned— was  entrusted  to  the  Hutchins-Votey  Company 
of  Boston,  and  after  repeated  delays  was  ready  for  use 
in  December.     It  was  formally  dedicated  on  the  Second 

103 


Sunday  in  Advent,  December  8th,  and  Doctor  Lutkin.  by 
request  of  the  rector  and  the  vestry,  accompanied  the 
services. 

At  the  Choral  Eucharist,  Gounod's  "St.  CeciHa" 
music  was  sung,  the  dedicatory  anthem  being  Ouseley's 
"It  came  even  to  pass."  Evensong  was  marked  by  a 
special  procession  about  the  church  after  the  Office,  and 
by  Stanford's  Te  Deum  in  B  flat  at  the  close  of  the  ser- 
vice. The  music  included  Mann's  Magnificat  and  Nunc 
Dimittis  in  A  flat  and  Goss'  "Wilderness."  Dean  Lutkin's 
organ  numbers  throughout  the  day  were  as  follows : 

St.  Anne's  Fugue Bach 

Third    Sonata    Mendelssohn 

Organ  Prelude,  B  minor Bach 

Largo  (New  World  Symphony)  Dvorak 

Andante  Cantabile  (Fourth  Symphony)....   Widor 
Allegro  from  Sixth  Concerto Handel 

After  Mr.  Barry's  resignation  as  organist  in  Septem- 
ber, 1906,  the  vacancy  remained  open  until  the  following 
January,  when  Mr.  Louis  N.  Dodge  was  appointed.  I 
think  Mr.  Dodge  looked  forward  to  the  new  organ  as  much 
as  I  did,  but  neither  of  us  realized  that  it  would  prove 
both  a  help  and  a  hindrance.  And  I  have  often  thought 
that  its  helpfulnes  was  more  than  offset  by  the  embarrass- 
ments it  not  infrequently  caused.  It  came  to  us  with  a 
balky  reputation  and  more  than  lived  up  to  the  claim  made 
for  it  as  such.  The  chief  trouble  seemed  to  lie  in  the  con- 
sole and  the  motor,  mainly,  however,  in  the  former. 
Cyphers  would  arise  most  unaccountably  during  the  ser- 
vice and  with  exasperating  frequency.  There  was  con- 
stant need  of  the  organ  electrician,  who  would  make  such 
adjustments  as  seemed  called  for,  and  perhaps  before  he 
was  well  away  the  situation  would  be  as  bad  as  ever.  It 
was  no  unusual  thing  for  the  power  to  "give  out"  just 
before  or  during  the  service,  so  that  neither  organist  nor 
choir  knew  what  was  likely  to  happen  next.  No  organist 
at  St.  Mark's  ever  played  for  services  under  greater 
nerve-racking  conditions  than  Mr.  Dodge.  In  the  old 
days  the  complaint  was  that  the  organ  was  too  small  and 
not   equal   to   the   requirements   of   the   services.      Now. 

104 


liOAVcver,  this  drawback  no  longer  existed,  but  in  its  place 
was  an  even  more  serious  one.  We  had  the  organ,  but 
were  unable  to  enjoy  the  full  use  of  it  through  faulty  or 
worn-out  electrical  action.  There  was  just  one  redeem- 
ing feature  in  the  condition  of  things,  despite  all  the  draw- 
backs— the  choir  came  to  rely  less  and  less  upon  the  in- 
strument for  support  and  were  constantly  on  the  alert  for 
surprises. 

As  I  think  of  those  days,  I  frequently  wonder 
how  Mr.  Dodge  felt  as  he  sat  at  the  console  to  play  for 
the  Choral  Eucharist,  when,  as  on  Easter  Day,  Gounod's 
"St.  Cecilia"  music  was  to  be  sung.  Conditions  did  not 
improve  as  time  went  on.  but,  on  the  contrary,  grew 
worse,  until  in  1913  we  were  advised  that  the  only  lasting 
solution  of  the  entire  problem  would  be  to  replace  the  old 
worn-out  console  with  a  new  one  embodying  all  modern 
improvements.  This  was  done  at  considerable  cost— to- 
wards which  the  W^oman's  Guild,  under  the  presidency 
of  Mrs.  J.  K.  Lewis,  generously  contributed  $1,000.00 — 
during  the  summer  of  1913,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
organ  received  a  thorough  overhauling.  As  illustrative 
of  the  condition  of  things  in  1913,  I  quote  from  the  Choir 
Notes  in  the  April  number  (1913)  of  the  Lion  of  St. 
Mark — "The  music  for  Easter  Day  was  prepared  with 
some  feelings  of  apprehension  on  account  of  the  recent 
varying  moods  of  our  organ,  which  have  too  often  seriously 
handicapped  both  choir  and  organist."  Here  is  a  further 
sidelight  from  the  August  number  of  the  parish  magazine 
of  the  same  year — "The  fact  that  our  organist  has  been 
constantly  handicapped,  and  that  the  choir  work  has  suf- 
fered to  a  discouraging  degree  on  account  of  the  defec- 
tive state  of  the  organ,  is  an  old  story  to  every  one  who 
attends  St.  Mark's.  The  completion  of  the  new  console 
and  such  other  work  as  has  been  necessary  in  the  way 
of  repairs  is  promised  for  September  1st,  and  will,  we 
confidently  hope,  wholly  eliminate  such  troubles  as  ha\e 
too  often  marred  the  music  and  disturbed  the  services  for 
some  time  past." 

Sometimes  I  think  I  underestimated  the  very  real 
difficulties  under  which  Mr.  Dodge  was  compelled  to 
work,    and    while     T    know    that    the    increasing-    res- 


ponsibilities  of  his  position  at  the  School  of  Music  de- 
manded so  much  of  his  time,  it  still  seems  to  me  like  a 
veritable  piece  of  self-sacrifice  on  his  part  to  resign  the 
position  as  organist  at  St.  Mark's  just  when  the  very 
conditions  which  had  made  the  office  so  trying  were  about 
to  be  remedied ;  for  from  the  day  that  we  first  had  the  full 
use  of  the  new  console  we  have  had  no  just  cause  of 
complaint,  but  have  enjoyed  the  organ  in  the  services 
more  and  more.  I  would  like  to  close  my  reference  to 
Mr.  Dodge  by  stating  that  of  all  St.  Mark's  organists  with 
whom  I  have  worked,  he  was  the  only  one  that  I  ever 
felt  able  to  sit  down  with  for  mutual  intercourse  on  the 
service  itself  apart  from  the  music. 

I  come  now  to  speak  of  Mr.  Stanley  A.  Martin,  who 
followed  Mr.  Dodge  and  who  now  succeeds  me  as  choir- 
master. The  two  offices  are  thus  united  for  the  first 
time  since  1892.  My  work  with  Mr.  Martin  began  in 
September,  1913.  He  came  to  us  after  a  brief  experience 
at  St.  Elisabeth's,  Glencoe,  under  the  Rev.  George  R. 
Arnold,  who  as  a  former  curate  of  St.  Mark's  knew  our 
services  well  and  evidently  ordered  his  own  at  St. 
Elisabeth's  in  close  accordance  with  them.  In  addition 
to  this,  Mr.  Martin  enjoyed  the  added  advantage  of  being 
associated  in  the  work  at  Glencoe  with  Mr.  J.  B.  Esden, 
who  as  choirmaster  gave  him  much  help  to  a  right  under- 
standing of  both  the  services  and  the  music  of  the  services. 
Though  not  a  Churchman  at  the  time  he  came  to  St. 
Mark's,  it  was  surprising  to  me  how  very  quickly  he  fell 
into  our  ways  and  requirements,  but  undoubtedly  his 
experience  at  Glencoe  under  Mr.  Arnold  and  Mr.  Esden 
contributed  no  little  to  that  end.  From  no  one  of  those 
who  have  been  associated  with  me  in  the  music  of  the 
services  at  St.  Mark's  have  I  received  so  much  help  and 
so  much  pleasure  as  from  Mr.  Martin.  I  am  prepared  to 
leave  on  record  what  I  have  said  on  several  recent  occa- 
sions, ie.  that  I  know  of  no  one — if  I  may  judge  by  his 
present  inclinations  as  to  the  music  of  the  services — to 
whom  I  would  more  willingly  commit  the  care  and  the 
future  of  St.  Mark's  choir  than  to  him  who  has  worked 
with  me  so  faithfully  and  so  harmoniously  for  nearly 
five  years  past. 

106 


MR.  STANLEY  A.  MARTIN 

Organist,  September.  1913 

Choirmaster   and    Organist,   June,    1918 


i:f)e  €\}ok 


Voluntary  Choirs  and  Otherwise 

The  Choir  Room 

Choir  DiscipHne 

Choir  Anniversaries 

Union  Services 

Service  Lists 

The  Use  of  Anthems 

The  Choral  Service 


Chapter  V 


CJjapter  jfi\it 

VOLUNTARY  CHOIRS  AND  OTHERWISE 

Xot  long  ago  1  met  one  of  the  Xorth  Shore  clergy, 
and  our  conversation  turning  upon  choirs  and  their  man- 
agement we  presently  found  ourselves  on  the  much-dis- 
cussed subject  of  paying  the  boys  for  their  services.  This 
clergyman  was  strongly  opposed  to  the  practice  as  based 
upon  a  wrong  principle  and  as  failing  to  put  before  the 
boys  that  it  is  their  privilege  to  give  their  singing  to  the 
Church  rather  than  to  be  looking  for  remuneration.  I 
agreed  with  him  heartily  that  a  voluntary  choir,  wherever 
possible,  is  to  be  preferred  as  representing  the  ideal  way. 

There  may  be — there  are — voluntary  choirs  where 
the  choirmaster  is  at  all  times  in  a  position  to  command 
regularity,  good  deportment  in  choir  room  and  church, 
and  to  maintain  a  high  standard  of  service  music.  But 
such  choirs  are  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule.  It  has 
become  increasingly  evident  of  late  years  that  in  order  to 
secure  the  very  points  to  which  I  have  just  referred,  some- 
thing more  is  necessary  than  such  influence  as  the  Church 
may  have  upon  boys  and  men — something  more  than  the 
moral  hold  or  the  mere  Hkeableness  of  the  choirmaster 
himself.  And,  generally  speaking,  the  something  more 
has  been  supplied,  in  large  measure,  at  least,  by  the 
monthly  envelope,  for  by  it  regularity  in  attendance  and 

109 


deportment,  two  things  so  essential  to  good  work,  are 
much  more  readily  ensured. 

I  would  not  be  understood  as  advocating  a  commer- 
cialized choir — far  from  it — but  I  do  not  know  at  times 
how  the  standard  of  the  music  at  St.  Mark's  could  have 
been  maintained  on  a  purely  voluntary  basis.  The  custom 
was  already  established  when  I  first  knew  the  parish. 
Admitting  that  the  payment  of  choristers  is  a  necessary 
evil — that  is,  if  a  creditable  singing  of  something  more 
than  hymns  and  chants  be  looked  for,  I  do  claim  that  at 
our  own  church  we  have  at  least  reduced  that  evil  to  a 
minimum.  I  have  always  tried  to  impress  upon  the  boys 
that  such  envelopes  as  they  received  were  not  handed  to 
them  as  so  much  pay  for  work  done,  but  rather  to  encour- 
age them  in  their  endeavors  to  improve  the  music  of  the 
services.  The  total  amount  that  St.  Mark's  boys  have 
been  receiving  has  varied  all  the  way  from  twenty-five 
cents  to  about  a  dollar,  or,  in  the  case  of  a  month  with 
five  Sundays,  slightly  more.  It  is  obvious,  therefore,  that 
our  boys  do  not  come  to  the  choir  for  what  their  envelopes 
contain.  Boys  have  never  been  drawn  to  St.  Mark's  from 
purely  mercenary  motives.  The  inducement  has  not  been 
sufficiently  attractive  to  them  for  that.  The  following 
incident  bears  out  what  I  have  just  said :  Within  the  last 
six  months  a  boy  made  application  for  admission  to  our 
choir.  He  came  from  the  East  and  had  sung,  I  think,  in 
one  of  the  leading  Brooklyn  churches,  where,  so  he  told 
me,  the  men  gave  their  services  but  the  boys  were  paid. 
I  learned  that  in  addition  to  his  envelope  as  an  ordinary 
chorister,  he  had  been  accustomed  to  receiving  two  dol- 
lars whenever  he  sang  a  special  solo.  It  also  became  evi- 
dent as  we  talked  that  at  that  very  time  he  had  applied 
for  admission  in  at  least  one  of  our  neighboring  choirs.  I 
liked  his  voice  much  and  would  have  been  glad  of  him  at 
St.  Mark's.  I  told  him  so.  but,  I  added,  "I  cannot  do 
more  for  you  than  for  any  of  the  leading  boys  of  our 
choir,  and  the  best  of  them  receive  about  a  dollar  or  per- 
haps a  trifle  over  every  month,  and  nothing  extra  for  solo 
work.  Now,"  said  I,  "if  you  feel  like  working  with  us 
under  those  conditions,  and  I  should  very  much  like  to 

110 


have  you  do  so,  come  up  tomorrow  evening  to  full  rehear- 
sal." Of  course,  he  never  came,  for  it  was  all  too  clear 
that  he  was  selling  himself  to  the  highest  bidder. 

In  common  fairness  to  those  who  have  found  it  ad- 
visable to  make  use  of  monthly  envelopes,  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  they  prove  a  very  real  aid  in  maintaining 
deportment,  punctuality,  and  regularity  in  attendance,  also 
that  they  not  infrequently  bring  good  helpful  voices  which 
the  choirmaster  might  not  otherwise  secure. 


THE  CHOIR  ROOM 

The  ceremony  of  turning  the  first  sod  on  the  site  of 
the  present  parish  house  was  witnessed  by  the  whole 
congregation  on  a  beautiful  Sunday  morning  in  the  spring 
of  1902  after  the  usual  eleven  o'clock  service.  The  choir 
was  grouped  upon  and  around  the  steps  leading  into  the 
old  choir  room,  with  Doctor  Little  in  the  front,  the  con- 
gregation stretching  along  Mr.  Fabian's  driveway  and  by 
the  south  wall  of  the  church.  After  some  opening  prayers 
the  rector  turned  the  first  sod  and  removed  a  spadeful 
of  earth,  then  Mr.  H.  S.  Slaymaker,  the  senior  warden, 
as  representing  the  parish,  Mrs.  Richard  H.  Wyman  for 
the  parish  guilds  and  last  of  all  the  choirmaster.  The 
rector  then  spoke  a  few  appropriate  words,  after  which 
the  hymn,  "O  God,  Our  Help  in  xA.ges  Past,"  was  sung 
and  the  service  concluded  with  the  Grace. 

I  am  wondering  whether  any  one  will  question  in  his 
mind  just  why  I  have  introduced  this  mention  of  the 
parish  house  in  notes  having  to  do  directly  with  the  choir. 
At  first  it  may  appear  as  an  oversight :  in  reality,  however, 
no  better  or  more  logical  place  could  have  been  found  for 
it.  It  has  had  everything  to  do  with  making  the  work  of 
choir  and  choirmaster  easier  and  more  effective. 

There  were  few  parishes  in  1891,  when  St.  Mark's 
was  built,  with  as  fine  and  well  appointed  a  church  and 
with  ample  choir  accommodations  in  the  chancel  as  we 
had,  and  there  were  equally  few  who  so  totally  overlooked 
all  but  the  barest  needs  for  the  upkeep  of  such  a  choir. 

Ill 


Before  the  parish  house  was  built,  the  choir  room — en- 
trance to  which  was  near  the  archway  leading  into  the 
present  parish  house — was  about  two-thirds  the  length 
and  half  the  width  of  that  which  we  now  occupy.  It 
opened  directly  into  the  church  where  every  sound  car- 
ried, no  choir  work,  therefore,  of  any  kind  could  be  at- 
tempted if  there  was  a  service.  The  boys'  vestments 
were  crowded  into  a  small  closet  in  one  corner  of  the 
room  ;  the  men's  in  a  wardrobe  placed  in  the  organ  cham- 
ber. Near  the  men's  vestments  was  a  set  of  shelves 
about  eighteen  inches  wide  by  four  and  a  half  feet  high 
wdiich  served  the  purpose  of  a  choir  library.  Fortunately, 
in  this  respect  our  musical  repertoire  in  those  days  was 
extremely  limited. 

It  may  ha\e  been  that  because  the  rector  and 
vestry  felt  that  inasmuch  as  the  choir  had  been  com- 
pelled to  do  its  work  under  such  trying  conditions  they 
were  perfectly  willing  in  1902  to  accept  any  reasonable 
suggestions  as  to  the  necessary  quarters  in  the  new 
parish  house.  I  recall  their  kindly  consideration  with 
gratefulness.  I  was  asked  to  state  what  I  would  like  and, 
for  the  most  part,  my  suggestions  were  followed.  For 
light,  for  ventilation,  for  size  we  have  all  that  the  average 
choirmaster  could  wish  for,  and  more  than  nine-tenths 
of  them  possess ;  indeed,  I  know  of  no  church  in  or  about 
Chicago  where  the  choir  room  equals  ours.  There  are 
in  several  instances  larger  ones,  but  in  other  respects 
they  are  much  inferior.  Where,  in  the  old  days,  one  had 
to  stop  any  rehearsing,  say  before  Evensong,  if  there  was 
a  baptism,  now  we  are  able  to  go  ahead  at  any  time,  with 
a  full  rehearsal  if  need  be.  singing  anything  except  the 
heaviest  kind  of  music  and  it  does  not  seriously  disturb 
any  service.  Beforetime — vestments  were  put  away,  per- 
force, in  the  most  crowded  and  insanitary  fashion ;  now 
there  are  commodious  individual  lockers  with  every  con- 
venience, including  book  racks  for  hymnals,  in  each.  In- 
stead of  the  usual  uninviting  lavatory,  there  is  a  good, 
commodious  and  cleanly-looking  one.  Only  in  just  a 
single  respect  was  I  a  little  disappointed.  The  size  of  the 
choir  office  and  choir  library  had  to  be  reduced,  so  that 

113 


the  usefulness  of  what  promised  to  be  two  splendid  rooms 
was  greatly  impaired.  The  office,  however,  even  in  its 
reduced  size,  has  proved  so  much  of  a  convenience  that  it 
would  seem  hard  to  get  along  without  it ;  while  as  regards 
the  library,  the  present  stock  of  church  music  could  not 
be  cared  for  without  some  such  accommodation.  In  its 
provision  of  hinged  cloth-bound  card-board  boxes  for 
pigeon-holed  cases  which  occupy  three  sides  of  the  room 
extending  from  floor  to  ceiling.  I  can  say  with  perfect 
truth  that  there  is  nothing  like  it  for  convenience  here- 
abouts. Unfortunately,  through  Doctor  Little's  anxiety 
to  provide  for  the  convenience  of  the  ladies  should  the 
second  floor  of  the  parish  house  be  called  into  use  for 
refreshments  at  any  time,  a  dumb  waiter  was  allowed 
to  take  up  half  of  the  north  wall  of  the  library,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  nearly  all  the  available  space  for  filing  pur- 
poses is  now  in  use.  Should  Mr.  Martin  take  up  much 
new  music  in  the  coming  years,  he  will  have  nowhere  to 
bestow  it.  Undoubtedly,  however,  wdien  the  parish  house 
is  remodeled  this  defect  will  be  corrected.  Our  choir 
room,  since  the  day  I  first  entered  it.  has  been  a  joy  to  me. 
perhaps  for  the  very  reason  that  the  drawbacks  of  the 
former  one  were  so  very  pronounced.  And  all  this  con- 
venience which  w^e  have  had  for  fifteen  years  has  come  to 
the  choir  through  the  building  of  the  parish  house. 

One  thing  in  particular  I  ought  to  speak  of  in  con- 
nection with  the  choir  room.  When  we  first  took  up  our 
quarters  in  it  we  had  an  old  square  and  very  second-rate 
piano  which  had  to  serve  all  purposes.  The  need  for  a 
new  instrument  was  urgent,  but  there  seemed  no  way  by 
which  that  need  could  be  remedied.  One  day,  Mr.  How- 
ard P.  Gray,  who  used  to  reside  at  1453  Ridge  Avenue, 
one  of  the  most  genial  and  liberal  souls  that  ever  lived, 
told  me  that  if  we  could  pick  up  a  fairly  good  second-hand 
grand  piano  he  would  be  responsible  for  the  cost.  The 
piano  now  in  the  choir  room  we  owe  to  Mr.  Gray.  He 
was  not  a  man  of  unlimited  means,  and  he  paid  for  the 
instrument  by  monthly  installments.  He  went  to  his  rest 
and  reward  years  ago,  but  I  have  often  thought  of  him, 
and  as  often  have  been  grateful  for  his  self-denial.    I  can 

113 


hear  his  voice  now,  as  he  said  when  he  promised  the  piano 
— "I  am  doing  this  for  you  personally,  Mr.  Holmes." 

May  God  rest  his  soul. 

Before  concluding  these  notes  upon  the  present  choir 
room  as  compared  with  the  old  one,  I  want  to  say  a  word 
upon  its  pictures.  With  but  two  exceptions  they  are  of 
my  own  collecting  year  after  year.  On  the  north  and 
south  walls  they  are,  as  most  people  know  at  a  glance, 
largely  made  up  of  English  cathedrals.  It  may  be  of  in- 
terest to  some  to  know  that  along  with  the  pictures  of 
Canterbury  and  York  are  the  autograph  signatures  of 
the  archbishops  of  those  dioceses  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago.  Edward  White  Benson,  then  Primate  of  All  Eng- 
land and  Metropolitan,  died  suddenly  in  Hawarden 
parish  church,  where  he  was  attending  service  with  Mr. 
Gladstone,  whom  he  was  visiting  at  Hawarden  Castle. 
He  passed  away  quietly  after  the  Absolution  had  been 
pronounced.  When  I  first  visited  Canterbury  in  1894,  I 
saw  the  archbishop  at  the  station.  I  ventured  to  speak 
with  him  and  when  he  found  that  I  was  from  Chicago,  he 
seemed  much  interested  and  asked  to  be  remembered  to 
Bishop  McLaren.  It  was  soon  after  this  that  I  wrote 
asking  for  his  autograph,  which  he  very  graciously  sent. 
I  had  explained  to  him  that  it  was  for  St.  Mark's  choir 
room.  It  is.  perhaps,  superfluous  to  note  that  an  English 
bishop  takes  his  official  name  from  the  diocese  over  which 
he  presides,  and  not  infrequently  the  name  so  used  is  that 
by  which  the  diocese  was  known  long  centuries  ago. 
Thus,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  signs  Cantuar:  and 
Archbishop  Benson's  autograph  in  our  choir  room  reads 
Edward  Cantuar. 

The  autograph  signature  of  the  Archbishop  of  York 
framed  with  the  picture  of  that  minster  is  that  of  William 
Dalrymple  Maclagan,  who,  as  Bishop  of  Lichfield,  con- 
firmed me.  He  was  translated  from  Lichfield  to  York. 
When  I  wrote  to  him  requesting  the  same  favor  as  that 
asked  of  Archbishop  Benson,  I  reminded  him  that  he  con- 
firmed me  in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Matthias,  Hanford. 
in  April,  1880.  I  received  what  I  asked  for  and,  in  addi- 
tion, a  beautiful  letter  referring  to  my  confirmation  at  his 


hands.  This  letter  I  still  have  and  prize  highly.  Arch- 
bishop Maclagan's  official  signature  reads  Wilhelm  Ebor, 
the  latter  being  an  abbreviation  of  Eboracum,  the  old 
Roman  name  for  York.  The  Archbishop  was  both  a  poet 
and  musician.  We  have  used  his  musical  setting  to  Hymn 
229,  "O,  Thou,  Before  the  World  Began" — there  is  also  a 
setting  of  his  to  Hymn  224,  "Bread  of  the  World."  The 
words  of  that  fine  hymn.  No.  224,  for  St.  Luke's  Day, 
"What  Thanks  and  Praise  to  Thee  We  Owe,"  are  his,  as 
also  are  those  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  many 
beautiful  hymns  for  x\ll  Saints'  Day,  "The  Saints  of  God ! 
Their  Conflict  Past." 

CHOIR  DISCIPLINE 

Among  the  many  who  in  the  course  of  years  have 
referred  to  me  when  applying  for  business  positions,  I 
have  had  to  smile  again  and  again  as  I  have  recognized 
names  of  those  who  as  choir  boys  had  dropped  from  tho 
ranks,  occasionally  without  a  word,  because  they  were 
not  amenable  to  choir  room  discipline.  One  such  instance 
there  was  only  three  months  ago.  I  have  always  had  a 
peculiar  satisfaction  in  answering  such  letters,  for  if 
there  is  anything  that  has  confirmed  me  in  my  opinion 
that  my  general  attitude  as  a  disciplinarian  has  been 
worth  while,  it  is  the  change  of  heart  evident  in  the  let- 
ters to  which  I  have  alluded.  Discouraging  results  I  have 
had,  of  course, — every  choirmaster  has  them;  but  they 
are  so  very  far  outnumbered  by  examples  of  real  appre- 
ciation, often  from  sources  quite  outside  the  parish,  that 
one  can  well  afford  to  forget  the  others. 

Here  is  a  letter  which  reached  me  at  St.  Mark's  just 
before  my  last  service  there.  The  writer  was  a  choir  boy 
sixteen  years  ago.  He  does  not  belong  to  the  Church,  but 
has  always  retained  an  interest  in  the  choir  and  invariably 
had  a  cordial  greeting  for  me  whenever  we  met,  which, 
however,  was  but  seldom.  At  the  present  time  he  holds 
a  fine  position  in  the  U.  S.  Army. 

"Perhaps  you  will  be  surprised  at  this  sudden  burst 
of  sentiment — particularly  since  our  own  paths  separated 


long  since,  but  I  can't  resist  telling  you  how  very  precious 
to  me  is  the  memory  of  our  association  at  St.  Mark's. 

"A  boy,  at  an  impressionable  age,  you  instilled  in 
me  a  respect  for  quiet  dignity  and  wholesome  discipline 
that  has  been  a  real  help  to  me." 

I  have  nothing  new  to  add  to  the  articles  given  be- 
low, which  I  wrote  in  1916  for  the  July  and  December 
numbers  of  our  parish  magazine.  They  embody  the  prin- 
ciples which  I  have  tried  to  stand  by  at  all  times  ever 
since  I  knew  St.  Mark's,  and  are  included  here  merely 
as  a  matter  of  record. 

"It  has  often  seemed  to  me  that  there  are  people  who 
look  upon  the  choir  as  but  another  sort  of  Sunday  School 
class  which  boys  may  attend  or  not  just  as  they  feel  in- 
clined, and  where  deportment  does  not  enter  into  con- 
sideration. The  two  principles  here  involved,  i.  e.,  regu- 
larity in  attendance,  and  deportment,  have  proved  rocks 
on  which  many  an  otherwise  good  choir  has  well  nigh 
gone  to  pieces.  Regularity  should  mean  the  giving  up  of 
whatever  may  conflict  with  choir  rehearsals  or  services. 
Deportment  refers  to  whatever  may  in  any  degree  tend 
to  lower  the  standard  of  the  work  either  in  choir  room 
or  church.  In  these  phases  of  choir  work  a  choirmaster 
ought  to  be  able  to  rely  upon  the  wholehearted  co-opera- 
tion of  the  parents  of  the  boys,  otherwise  his  efforts  may 
count  for  very  little.  Regularity  in  attendance  and  de- 
portment are  absolutely  vital  to  the  best  interests  of  any 
choir.  That  they  have  always  been  placed  in  the  forefront 
at  St.  ]\Iark's  is  one  of  the  main  reasons  why  for  years 
past  we  have  become  accustomed  to  services — if  one  must 
believe  opinions  from  widely  varying  sources — helpful 
alike  musically  and  devotionally.  In  short,  what  is  looked 
for  from  the  boys  is  just  what  they  are  accustomed  to 
give  in  the  Public  Schools, — no  more,  no  less." 


"The  maintaining  of  discipline  in  any  parish  choir 
or  Sunday  School  has  always  been  more  or  less  of  a  prob- 
lem. I  have  ever  been  a  firm  believer  in  the  old  proverb 
"Prevention  is  better  than  cure."    As  a  result  I  have  at 

116 


times  been  thought  too  much  of  a  martinet  in  matters 
of  discipline.  Occasionally  my  policy  is  called  into  ques- 
tion by  parents  anxious  to  have  their  boys  under  my 
training,  as  they  are  pleased  to  put  it.  Their  real  reason 
is  obvious  enough.  Apart  from  musical  considerations 
they  wish  the  choirmaster  to  undertake  what  they  them- 
selves have  failed  in  attempting  to  do,  or  have  wholly 
neglected.  And  the  inconsistent  part  of  it  is  that  directly 
the  choirmaster  attempts  to  administer  what  he  considers 
needed  reproof  or  discipline,  these  same  parents  are  just 
as  likely  to  take  exception  to  it.  On  the  other  hand,  in- 
stances have  multiplied  time  and  again  where  parents 
have  been  openly  appreciative  of  the  efforts  made  in  St. 
Mark's  choir  room  to  impress  upon  every  one.  boys  and 
men  alike,  the  desirability  of  doing  all  things  decently 
and  in  order.  A  system  that  has,  on  the  whole,  worked 
so  well  for  twenty-five  years  ought  to  be  worth  con- 
tinuing.    And  it  will  be  so  continued." 


CHOIR  ANNIVERSARIES 

One  of  the  most  interesting  events  in  the  annals  of 
the  choir  has  been  the  yearly  observance  of  the  anniver- 
sary of  its  organization  on  the  afternoon  of  Whitsunday, 
1887.  At  one  time  we  used  to  prepare  quite  a  good  deal 
of  special  music  for  this  annual  occasion,  but  it  grew  to 
be  too  much  as  a  yearly  undertaking.  Besides,  there  was 
always  the  possibility  of  a  very  hot  day.  I  still  have  in 
mind  the  torrid  conditions  prevailing  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  sixteenth  anniversary,  1903,  when  the  Adams'  Me- 
morial window  was  dedicated.  So  it  came  about  that  while 
the  choir  birthday  was  marked  in  some  small  way  each 
year,  unusual  observances  were  reserved  for  the  more 
important  anniversaries.  The  twenty-first  was  one  such, 
in  keeping  which  I  invited  as  many  as  possible  of  the 
former  choristers  to  join  the  regular  choir  and  the  result 
was  most  gratifying  as  may  be  seen  from  the  list  given 
in  the  last  division  of  this  book.  Among  those  present 
was  the  Rev.  W.  I.  A.  Beale.  a  choir  bov  at  St.  Mark's 


in  1888.  The  music  included  Lutkin's  Magnificat  and 
Nunc  Dimittis  in  B  flat,  Gaul's  solo  and  chorus,  "A  new 
heaven  and  a  new  earth,"  ("Holy  City"),  Sullivan's 
"Who  is  like  unto  Thee?"  and  Smart's  Te  Deum  in  F. 

The  next  anniversary  of  note  was  the  twenty-fifth  in 
1912.  Doctor  Longley  was  greatly  interested  and 
seconded  my  efiforts  to  make  it  what  it  really  became, — 
the  most  successful  reunion  that  we  have  ever  had.  There 
were  over  seventy  in  the  procession.  Here  is  the  rector's 
comment  upon  the  service : 

"A  large  number  of  choristers  were  in  line,  including 
many  of  the  old  boys  who  were  later  crucifers  and  aco- 
lytes. *  *  *  Full  choral  Evensong  was  rendered,  ending 
with  a  Te  Deum.  Mann's  Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis 
in  A  flat  were  used,  and  the  anthem  after  the  Third 
Collect  was  Woodward's  beautiful  setting  of  "The  Day 
Thou  Gavest."  At  the  close  of  the  Office  the  procession 
formed  and  marched  down  the  nave,  through  the  aisles, 
returning  to  the  chancel  through  the  nave.  After  this, 
Goss's  "Wilderness"  was  sung,  the  Offertory  Anthem  be- 
ing Handel's  "Hallelujah."  Being  also  the  Sunday  before 
Decoration  Day,  the  choir  ended  a  very  beautiful  service 
with  the  singing  of  "America,"  while  the  crucifers  took 
their  places,  and  the  national  standard  was  lifted  high,  it 
being  the  custom  in  the  parish  to  carry  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  near  a  national  holiday. 

"The  choir,  well  known  for  the  excellence  of  its 
work,  never  sang  with  greater  inspiration  or  better  tone. 
Although  few  rehearsals  were  possible  with  the  old  mem- 
bers, the  attacks  and  releases  were  noticeably  well  done. 
Phrasing  and  great  expression  marked  the  careful  prepa- 
ration which  characterizes  the  work  of  Mr.  Holmes,  who 
nearly  the  entire  period  of  twenty-five  years  has  been 
with  the  choir.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  the 
choir  for  the  beautiful  service.  Mr.  Herbert  E.  Hyde, 
organist  of  St.  Peter's,  Chicago,  officiated  at  the  organ 
during  part  of  the  service,  giving  a  short  recital  before, 
and  playing  Lem.men's  "Marche  Pontificale"  while  the 
procession  moved  from  the  church.  The  service  was 
played  by  the  regular  parish  organist,  Mr.  Louis  Dodge, 

118 


who,  as  usual,  accompanied  the  choir  with  excellent  taste 
and  sympathy. 

"Near  the  close  of  the  service  the  annual  choir 
medals  were  presented.  At  this  time  the  rector  made  a 
few  remarks  on  the  place  of  music  in  the  worship  of  the 
church,  and  addressed  the  boys  commending  them  for 
their  faithfulness,  and  asking  them  to  let  their  medals 
stand  as  reminders  of  the  need  of  faithful  service  all 
through  life  which  might  lead  to  higher  thoughts,  nobler 
deeds  and  greater  achievements.  The  rector  also  alluded 
to  the  nearly  twenty-five  years  of  faithful  service  of  Mr. 
Robert  Holmes  as  Choirmaster,  spoke  of  his  high  ideals, 
not  only  in  music,  which  had  brought  St.  Mark's  choir 
to  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  Chicago  choirs,  but  also 
his  ideals  of  Christian  character  which  were  ever  before 
the  boys  and  men  in  the  choir  room,  and  congratulated  the 
parish  on  possessing  such  a  man,  and  the  boys'  good  for- 
tune in  being  under  the  influence  of  such  a  choirmaster." 

No  further  attempts  at  a  general  reunion  were  made 
until  the  thirtieth  anniversary  on  May  27,  1917.  The 
order  of  the  music  included  Cruickshank's  Magnificat 
and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  G,  Wesley's  "Lead  Me,  Lord," 
Gounod's  "Hymn  of  the  Apostles"  from  the  "Redemp- 
tion," Beethoven's  "Hallelujah !''  from  the  "Mount  of 
Olives"  and,  at  the  close  of  the  service,  Stanford's  Te 
Deum  in  B  flat.  The  parish  magazine  had  the  following 
brief  mention  of  the  service  in  The  Choir  column : 

"The  occasion  brought  together  quite  a  number  of 
former  choristers,  chief  among  whom  was  the  Rev.  T. 
Marshall  Baxter,  a  choir  boy  of  St.  Mark's  in  1903,  now 
Priest-in-Charge  of  St.  Elizabeth's  Chicago.  Mr.  Bax- 
ter's singing  of  Evensong  added  much  to  the  effectiveness 
of  the  service,  and  his  presence  among  us  was  thoroughly 
appreciated  by  very  many  of  those  who  remembered  him 
in  former  days  at  St.  Mark's. 

"Thanks  to  the  fine  accompaniments  of  our  organist, 
Mr.  Stanley  A.  Martin,  all  the  chorus  work  was  marked 
by  steadiness ;  indeed,  the  entire  service  was  creditably 
sung,  and  this,  despite  the  fact  that  it  was  found  quite 
impossible  to  assemble  the  voices  for  a  mass  rehearsal." 

119 


This  was  the  last  occasion,  during  my  term  of  office 
as  choirmaster,  on  which  a  photograph  of  the  choir  was 
taken.  It  hangs  on  the  east  wall  of  the  choir  room,  while 
on  the  west  wall  are  similar  groups  dating  1889,  1904, 
1908,  and  1912. 

The  heading — Choir  Anniversaries — seems  to  afiford 
the  most  convenient  place  in  which  to  speak  of  choir 
medals,  since  for  years  past  the  annual  awarding  of  such 
medals  has  been  made  at  the  choir  anniversary  service. 
The  time  was  when  I  dreaded  the  approach  of  Whit- 
sunday, simply  because  it  meant  my  skirmishing  around 
for  funds, — and  there  are  many  things  I  am  better  fitted 
for  than  soliciting  funds.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  day  on 
which  Miss  Griswold,  who  had  been  good  enough  to 
furnish  one  of  the  medals  on  the  preceding  Whitsunday, 
said  to  me,  "Is  there  any  reason,  Mr.  Holmes,  why  I  may 
not  give  a  medal  every  year?"  I  was  almost  dumb  with 
surprise,  for  nothing  like  that  had  up  to  that  time  ever 
come  my  way.  I  believe  I  managed  to  make  Miss  Gris- 
wold understand  that  if  she  was  so  inclined  she  might 
continue  doing  so  indefinitely.  It  was  this  thoughtfulness 
on  Miss  Griswold's  part  that  enabled  me  to  approach 
others  in  the  parish  and,  without  giving  her  name, — 
which  condition  she  was  quite  insistent  upon — to  ask 
from  them  a  similar  favor. 

It  is  very  gratifying  to  me  that  before  leaving  St. 
Mark's  I  have  been  able  to  make  future  provision  for  all 
the  regular  medals.  One  of  these  is  provided  for  by  the 
sum  of  $200.00,  which  the  old  boys  gave  for  that  purpose 
on  the  occasion  of  the  twenty-first  anniversary  of  the 
choir,  in  which  connection  I  have  in  mind  how  very  much 
Mr.  Thomas  I.  Stacey  helped  in  acting  as  Treasurer  for 
this  Choir  Alumni  Medal  Fund.  In  the  event  of  special 
medals  becoming  necessary  at  any  future  time,  I  trust 
that  Mr.  Martin  will  allow  me  to  be  responsible  for  one 
of  them.  I  wish  to  express  my  thanks  to  those  who,  with 
Miss  Griswold,  have  given  me  the  pleasure  of  knowing 
that  the  choir  medals  are  secured  for  all  time. 

No  record  of  St.  Mark's  choir  would  be  complete 
without   mention   of   the   faithful   work   of   Miss   Mary 


Pearce,  who  since  its  formation  has  been  continuously  in 
office  as  choirmother,  and  has  ever  evinced  a  ready  in- 
terest in  all  that  concerns  the  well-being  of  the  choir. 

UNION  SERVICES 

The  choirs  of  St.  Peter's,  Chicago  and  St.  Mark's, 
Evanston,  have  for  many  years  past  been  in  the  habit  of 
exchanging  annual  visits  for  the  purpose  of  a  united 
Choral  Evensong.  The  first  of  these  services  was  held 
at  St.  Mark's  on  the  Sunday  on  which  the  news  of  the 
naval  victory  at  Manilla  Bay  reached  us.  I  remember  so 
well  meeting  the  rector  of  St.  Peter's — the  Rev.  Samuel 
Cook  Edsall,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Minnesota — as  he 
turned  the  corner  of  the  choir  room  leading  to  the  church 
in  company  with  a  number  of  his  choristers.  "Mr. 
Holmes,"  he  said,  "we  have  brought  our  flag  with  us ;  do 
you  suppose  that  Doctor  Little  will  object  to  our  carrying 
it?"  Of  course  Doctor  Little  was  delighted  with  Mr. 
Edsall's  proposal,  and  so  the  flag  was  carried  in  the 
middle  of  the  procession  of  some  eighty  men  and  boys. 
Everyone  was  full  of  enthusiasm  on  account  of  Admiral 
Dewey's  victory,  but  no  one  in  St.  Mark's  congregation 
was  expecting  to  see  the  Stars  and  Stripes  at  the  service, 
and  it  created  a  most  profound  impression.  I  was  told 
that  some  were  quite  overcome.  I  have  many  times  re- 
marked that  we  owed  our  flag  to  St.  Peter's,  for  very 
shortly  after  this  first  visit  of  their  choir,  Mrs.  F.  S. 
Martin,  who  attended  the  service,  presented  St.  Mark's 
with  the  very  beautiful  silk  flag  surmounted  by  the  cross 
instead  of  the  eagle,  wdiich  has  been  carried  on  all  na- 
tional holidays  from  that  time  forward,  until  recently, 
owing  to  its  badly  worn  condition,  Mr.  Charles  S.  Barber 
generously  replaced  it  with  a  new  one,  rich  and  elegant. 
If  I  venture  to  express  my  preference  for  the  flag  with 
the  cross,  rather  than  with  the  eagle  it  is  because  the  com- 
bination of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  with  the  Cross  suggests 
in  a  most  happy  and  ideal  way  the  bond  that  should  ever 
exist  between  Church  and  Country. 

121 


The  last  visit  of  St.  Peter's  to  our  church  took  place 
less  than  three  months  ago — on  the  afternoon  of  the  Sun- 
day after  Ascension  Day,  May  12.  The  following  account 
of  the  service  was  given  in  the  parish  magazine  for  June: 

"In  accordance  with  a  mutual  understanding  which 
relieves  the  visiting  choir  from  the  psalter  and  responses, 
the  choral  service  was  sung  by  St.  Mark's  choir  only, 
while  both  choirs  joined  with  fine  effect  in  the  hymns, 
Stanford's  Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  B  flat,  and 
the  anthems — Sullivan's  '"O  Gladsome  Light,"  ("Golden 
Legend")  and  Gounod's  ''Unfold,  Ye  Portals  Everlast- 
ing," ("Redemption").  At  the  close  of  the  service  Mr. 
Hyde,  choirmaster  and  organist  of  St.  Peter's,  gave  a 
brief  but  most  interesting  recital,  which  included 
"Spring,"  a  composition  of  his  own,  Bach's  Prelude  and 
Fugue  in  B  flat  major,  and  Wesley's  Choral  Song  and 
Fugue.  Following  the  recital  the  two  choirs  repaired  to 
the  parish  house,  where  supper  was  served  by  the  ladies 
of  St.  Mark's,  soon  after  which  the  visitors  left  for  Even- 
song at  their  own  church." 

THE  WEEKLY  SERVICE  LISTS 

Weekly  service  lists  have  been  in  continuous  use  at 
St.  Mark's  from  January,  1904,  to  the  present  time.  I 
remember  remarking  to  Doctor  Little,  after  Mr.  Charles 
S.  Burch's  ordination  to  the  diaconate  in  our  church  in 
1895,  that  such  a  list  on  that  occasion  would  not  only 
have  served  a  useful  purpose  in  the  service  itself,  but 
would  have  been  most  convenient  as  a  parish  record  since 
there  was  absolutely  nothing  on  the  register  of  the  parish 
to  mark  the  day.  From  that  time  forward  we  had  printed 
lists  on  Easter  Day,  and  in  course  of  time  on  Christmas 
Day  and  Whitsunday.  Once  we  started  a  monthly  list 
for  the  sake  of  giving  to  the  congregation  the  words  of 
the  anthems,  but  it  was  given  up  at  the  close  of  the  first 
month.  I  was  most  anxious  to  see  such  a  list  as  we  now 
have  weekly,  and  to  this  end  my  good  friend  and  helper 
in  the  choir  from  January,  1893,  to  December,  '^00,  Mr. 
Robert  C.   Fletcher,  used  to  prepare  a  modest-looking 

132 


slip  in  hektograph  ink  for  Evensong,  and  we  used  to  take 
off  sufificient  copies  for  use  in  the  nave.  We  tired  of  this 
after  a  while,  for  it  seemed  so  very  much  like  waiting 
for  the  "new  organ."  The  regular  lists  did  not  appear  for 
years  after  Mr.  Fletcher's  time,  but  I  often  think  of  his 
interest  in  this  wish  of  mine  and  of  his  practical  help 
towards  its  realization  had  it  been  possible  in  those  days. 
Bound  copies  of  St.  Mark's  service  lists  by  years  from 
1904  to  1917  inclusive,  are  to  be  seen  in  the  choir  library. 

THE  USE  OF  ANTHEMS 

One  of  the  first  things  which  Doctor  Little  did  after 
coming  to  St.  Mark's  was  to  allow  the  office  of  music 
committee  to  lapse,  and  I  recall  so  well  his  saying  to  me, 
"If  you  and  I  cannot  manage  the  musical  arrangement 
of  the  services,  Mr.  Holmes,  a  music  committee  will  not 
help  us."  There  is  little  doubt  in  my  mind  but  that  this 
step  of  the  Doctor's  contributed  in  no  small  measure  to 
our  having  had  so  little  friction  in  musical  matters,  as 
compared  with  many  another  parish,  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  I  have  been  spared  the  suggestions 
of  the  average  music  committee  whose  sole  object  is  too 
often  mere  musical  display,  and  whose  general  idea  seems 
to  be  that  if  a  choir  happens  to  have  a  good  soloist,  of 
whatever  kind,  there  must  be  a  "starring"  of  that  voice. 
Let  me  admit  right  here,  that  it  has  not  been  my  good 
fortune  to  develop  many  solo  voices  among  our  boys, — 
perhaps  the  fault  is  mine,  perhaps  the  material  did  not 
lend  itself  much  in  that  direction.  Certainly  I  have  had 
few  boys  like  John  Cramer,  Alfred  LTnderdown,  Frank 
Hebblethwaite,  or  as  at  present,  Malcolm  Balfour;  or. 
among  the  men  who  were  under  me  as  boys  such  voices 
as  those  of  Mr.  William  A.  Stacey,  Doctor  L.  Fiske 
Pooler,  or  Mr.  Edward  Stanbery. 

In  this  connection,  I  have  opportunity  to  say  a  word 
in  regard  to  what  has  been  my  policy  in  the  selection 
of  service  music.  To  those  who  might  look  through  the 
Choir  Year  Books  from  1904  to  1917  with  their  records 
of  all  the  Sunday  services  and  music,  I  believe  they  would 
be  struck  with  the  scant  use  of  offertory  solos.   This  was 


not  because  an  acceptable  solo  voice  was  lacking  in  the 
ranks — though  it  may  not  have  been  among  the  boys — 
since  Mr.  Stacey  was  with  us  continuously  up  to  and  in- 
cluding 1908,  and  Doctor  Pooler  until  the  present  time ; 
two  voices  that  any  choirmaster  might  well  be  proud  of. 
The  use  of  a  solo  in  place  of  an  anthem  has  always  seemed 
to  me  foreign  to  the  intention  of  what  the  Church  has  in 
mind  when  she  says  in  the  rubric  following  the  Offertory 
Sentences — "And  when  the  Alms  and  Oblations  shall  be 
presented,  there  may  be  sung  a  hymn,  or  offertory  anthem, 
etc." ;  or,  as  in  the  case  of  the  rubric  after  the  Third  Col- 
lect at  Evensong — "In  places  where  it  may  be  convenient, 
here  followeth  the  anthem." 

Now,  I  believe  that  by  the  use  of  the  word  anthem 
the  Church  means  a  musical  setting  of  words  from  Holy 
Scriptures,  etc.  etc.,  for  the  zvhole  choir  rather  than  for 
an  individual  voice,  a  chorus  rather  than  a  solo.  When 
in  the  Communion  Service  rubric  she  allows  a  hymn  or 
anthem  to  be  sung,  if  the  former  be  chosen — as  it  not  in- 
frequently is — I  believe  the  Church  contemplates  its  be- 
ing sung  by  choir  and  congregation,  that  is,  by  a  number 
of  voices ;  and  it  seems  to  me  that  the  same  principle 
applies  if  an  anthem  be  used,  except  that  in  that  case  its 
rendition  is  necessarily  confined  to  the  choir. 

I  have  been  a  close  observer  of  choirs  where  the  use 
of  a  solo  in  place  of  a  chorus  anthem  at  the  Oft'ertory  has 
been  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception,  and  my  impression 
is  that  it  engenders  a  spirit  of  unrest  in  the  ranks.  The 
anthem  is  one  of  the  few  portions  of  the  service  where, 
to  speak  from  a  purely  musical  plane,  the  men  and  boys, 
if  fond  of  something  more  than  hymn  singing,  are  given 
their  opportunity ;  and  I  believe  that  by  a  too  frequent 
use  of  solos  their  interest  wanes.  There  are,  so  it  seems 
to  me,  only  two  possible  reasons  for  more  than  an  occa- 
sional solo.  The  first  is  that  the  choir  may  not  be  equal 
to  an  anthem  every  Sunday  morning  and  evening  in  ad- 
dition to  the  other  music  of  the  services,  but  does  happen 
to  have  a  soloist  in  the  ranks.  On  this  basis,  a  solo,  fairly 
often,  might  be  excusable  as  a  matter  of  convenience. 
But  in  choirs  where  they  are  well  able  to  sing  a  chorus 


at  any  time,  and  where  a  higher  conception  of  the  service 
would  lead  them  to  do  so.  there  is  absolutely  no  excuse 
for  anthems  being  laid  aside  for  apparently  no  better 
reason  than  to  display  the  singing  of  some  highly-paid 
boy  or  man,  who,  because  he  has  an  unusually  good  voice 
and  receives  an  unusually  liberal  recognition  for  his  serv- 
ices has  to — so  the  music  committee  rules — give  them 
their  money's  worth.  There  is  no  dearth  of  Te  Deums, 
Magnificats  or  anthems  which  contain  incidental  solos, 
and  which  afford  a  fair  field  for  individual  work,  and 
the  best  choirs  of  the  East  and  of  the  old  country  utilize 
their  solo  voices  almost  exclusively  in  this  way.  Most  of 
the  churches  which  can  afford  highly  paid  soloists  have 
a  special  monthly  musical  service  or  organ  recital,  which 
should  give  all  the  opportunity  for  "starring"  that  ought 
to  be  expected. 

From  my  views  thus  expressed,  nothing  further  will, 
I  am  sure,  be  looked  for  in  explanation  of  the  very  lim- 
ited use  of  solos  in  place  of  the  anthem  at  St.  Mark's.  We 
have  preferred  giving  our  whole  attention  to  good  chorus 
singing,  with  special  regard  to  the  chief  points  looked  for 
in  such  work :  tone  quality,  expression,  enunciation, 
phrasing, — all  that  goes  to  make  for  a  finished  ensemble. 
To  what  degree  we  have  succeeded  I  am  not  presuming 
to  say,  but  such  has  been  our  aim,  and  I  am  well  content 
to  leave  the  opinion  to  those  who  have  regularly  or  oc- 
casionally attended  the  services.  Whatever  credit  there 
may  be  belongs  to  all  of  us — choristers,  organist,  and 
choirmaster  alike. 

I  want  to  mention,  for  the  sake  of  record,  that  in 
our  Evensong  we  have  recently  made  rather  frequent  use 
of  a  short  anthem  after  the  Third  Collect  in  addition  to 
that  sung  while  the  oft'erings  are  being  received.  This 
anthem  after  the  Third  Collect  has  been  brief,  the  words 
being  usually  from  one  of  the  evening  hymns,  well  suited 
to  follow  the  Collect  for  Aid  Against  Perils,  and  sung 
kneeling.  The  effect  of  hastily  getting  to  one's  feet  after 
the  Third  Collect  to  sing  an  anthem,  and  then  kneeling 
for  perhaps  two  or  more  prayers  with  the  Grace,  has  al- 
ways impressed  me  as  disturbing  too  much  the  continuity 


and  devotional  side  of  Evensong.  I  know  I  am  not  ex- 
aggerating when  I  say  that  our  custom  at  St.  Mark's  of 
kneeling  for  the  kind  of  anthem  we  have  made  use  of 
after  the  Third  Collect  adds  greatly  to,  rather  than  de- 
tracts, in  any  degree  from  the  service  itself. 

THE  CHORAL  SERVICE 

I  make  no  apology  for  speaking  of  the  Choral  Service 
at  St.  Mark's  as  being  of  an  order  which  has  for  years 
commended  itself  throughout  the  diocese  of  Chicago  and 
far  beyond,  and  I  place  the  credit  for  it  where  it  very 
rightly  belongs,  i.  e.,  to  Doctor  Little.  Brought  up  as  I 
was  in  England,  where  choral  services  even  forty  years 
ago  v/ere  fast  becoming  the  rule,  it  was  perfectly  natural 
that  I  should  welcome  the  Doctor's  request,  made  very 
soon  after  his  coming  to  the  parish,  that  we  sing  the 
responses  at  Evensong,  also  the  Psalter  as  soon  as  it  was 
conveniently  possible.  I  felt  gratified  that  the  new  rector 
was  not  one  of  those  who  objected  to  singing  the  Psalms 
or  intoning  the  prayers. 

I  am  quite  well  aware  of  the  objection  so  often 
raised  that  chanting  the  Psalter  takes  away  from  the 
people  that  which  belongs  to  them.  There  is  much  to  be 
said  in  favor  of  such  an  argument.  There  is,  or  used  to 
be,  a  second  objection  to  the  choral  service,  especially  to 
the  singing  of  the  Psalter.  The  latter  was  regarded  as  a 
sure  indication  of  a  certain  type  of  Churchmanship,  only 
to  be  found  where  an  "advanced  service"  was  the  pre- 
vailing order.  This  impression,  while  it  may  not  always 
have  found  audible  voice,  was  nevertheless  widely  preva- 
lent. The  singing  of  the  Psalms  in  the  English  Church, 
both  morning  and  evening,  is  quite  natural  in  scores  of 
parishes  where  anything  of  an  advanced  order  is  con- 
spicuous by  its  absence,  and  where  they  would  just  about 
as  soon  tolerate  the  use  of  a  processional  Cross  as  they 
would  think  of  observing  the  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi. 
Customs  vary  as  do  their  meanings.  The  Choral  Psalter 
in  England  is  looked  upon  as  the  best  and  original  way  of 
making  use  in  the  services  of  the  Psalms  of  David,  while 


ST.  AlAKK'S  CHURCH 


here  in  the  American  Church  the  same  custom  has  too 
often  stood  as  representative  of  a  particular  school  of 
Church  thought. 

There  is  still  another  objection  to  a  sung  service, 
which  has  been  largely  invited  by  musically  inclined 
clergy  insisting  upon  a  full  choral  service  when  they  have 
not  had  the  material  in  their  choirs  necessary  for  the 
work.  The  result  has  not  been  helpful  to  the  man  in  the 
pew,  and  there  are  instances  where  he  has  not  been  slow 
to  say  so.  I  believe  this  to  have  done  more  than  any  other 
thing  to  bring  the  choral  service  into  bad  odor, — for  I 
have  yet  to  meet  the  person  who  objects  to  it  if  it  is  well 
and  devotionally  sung.  The  Psalter  and  the  prayers  are 
not  necessarily  shorn  of  their  meaning  because  they  are 
sung.  A  clergyman,  a  comparatively  recent  visitor  at 
St.  Mark's  rectory,  and  whose  service  is.  I  imagine,  of 
the  plainest,  said  to  me  after  attending  Evensong  at  St. 
Mark's,  "I  would  not  object  to  the  choral  service  if  it 
could  be  as  you  have  it  at  St.  Mark's."  A  poorly  sung 
service  fails  to  reach  the  congregation  much  in  the  same 
degree  as  a  poorly  read  lesson  does. 

In  the  course  of  these  notes  upon  choir  work  I  have 
reproduced  several  letters  where  they  illustrate  the  point 
I  wish  to  make.  In  at  least  two  instances  they  were  writ- 
ten to  me  personally,  but  I  trust  that  no  one  will  look 
upon  them  as  used  from  any  other  motive  than  as  bear- 
ing upon  the  subject  under  discussion,  or  on  the  claims 
that  I  may  have  made  for  the  work  of  the  choir  at  St. 
Mark's.  The  following,  written  after  attending  a  service 
at  Holy  Trinity,  Stratford-on-Avon.  is  from  the  pen  of 
no  less  a  person  than  that  eminent  Congregational  min- 
ister, the  late  Henry  Ward  Beecher : 

"You  know  my  mother  was  until  her  marriage  in 
the  communion  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  This  thought 
hardly  left  me  while  I  sat,  grateful  for  the  privilege  of 
worshipping  God  through  a  service  that  had  expressed 
so  often  her  devotions.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I 
was  affected.  I  never  had  such  a  trance  of  worship  and 
I  shall  never  have  such  another  view  until  I  gain  the  gate. 

'T  am  so  ignorant  of  the  Church  service  that  I  can- 


not  call  the  various  parts  by  their  right  names,  but  the 
portions  which  most  affected  me  were  the  prayers  and 
the  responses  which  the  choir  sang.  I  had  never  heard 
any  part  of  a  suppHcation,  a  direct  prayer,  chanted  by  a 
choir,  and  it  seemed  as  though  I  heard  not  with  my  ear, 
but  with  my  soul.  I  was  dissolved;  my  whole  being 
seemed  to  me  like  an  incense  wafted  gratefully  towards 
God.  The  Divine  Presence  rose  before  me  in  a  wonderful 
majesty,  but  of  an  ineffable  gentleness  and  goodness,  and 
I  could  not  stay  away  from  a  more  familiar  approach,  but 
seemed  irresistibly,  yet  gently,  drawn  toward  God. 

"Oh,  when  in  the  prayers  breathed  forth  in  strains 
of  sweet,  simple,  solemn  music,  the  love  of  Christ  was 
recognized,  how  I  longed  then  to  give  utterance  to  what 
love  seemed  to  me." 

Doctor  Little  commented  on  these  words  of  Doctor 
Beecher's  as  follows :  "We  too  have  attended  the  service 
in  'Shakespeare's  Church,'  which  in  reverence  and 
beauty  does  not  equal  the  choral  service  in  our  own  St. 
Mark's.  There  are  hundreds  of  people  in  Evanston,  to 
whom  public  worship  is  a  'lost  art,'  but  who  might  have 
the  same  uplift  of  soul,  which  Mr.  Beecher  felt,  if  they 
would  join  with  heart  and  voice  in  the  worship  of  our 
own  parish  church.  Might  they  not  make  a  beginning  by 
attending  our  Choral  Evensong?" 

I  have  referred  elsewhere  to  Doctor  Little's  opinion 
that  the  Psalms  even  fairly  well  sung  are  infinitely  pref- 
erable to  their  being  poorly  read.  He  also  used  to  point 
out  the  glaring  inconsistency  of  a  great  burst  of  music 
at  the  Venite — "O  come,  let  us  sing  unto  the  Lord." — 
and  then,  after  such  an  uplift,  settling  down  to  reading 
the  Psalms  for  the  day. 

While  speaking  of  the  Choral  Service  as  used  at 
St.  Mark's  under  Doctor  Little,  I  would  like  to  refer  to 
the  occasional  use  of  the  Choral  Litany  in  those  days.  It 
was  never  sung  often  enough  for  unmusical  people  to 
tire  of  it,  for  which  reason  it  was  rather  looked  forward 
to  than  otherwise.  I  have  often  wished  for  its  occasional 
use  since  the  present  rector  came  to  St.  Mark's  but  have 
hesitated  to  suggest  it.    I  counted  much  upon  a  certain 

128 


service  in  Chicago  which  Doctor  Rogers  and  I  attended 
and  at  which  I  knew  it  would  be  sung,  as  perhaps  opening 
the  way  for  me.  But  after  the  service  I  was  more  re- 
luctant than  ever  to  broach  the  matter.  I  did,  however, 
ask  and  receive  the  rector's  permission  to  sing  the  Litany 
once  again  before  leaving  St.  Mark's.  It  was  so  used  on 
the  Third  Sunday  after  Easter,  April  21st  of  this  year. 

Just  as  the  Choral  Litany,  like  the  Psalter,  when  well 
sung  is  both  devotional  and  beautiful,  so  also  are  the 
Opening  Sentences  of  the  Burial  Office.  Years  ago, 
Doctor  Little  would  read  these  Sentences  in  the  cus- 
tomary manner  while  preceding  the  cortege  up  the  nave, 
and  the  choir,  from  its  place  in  the  chancel,  would  sing 
each  one  very  softly  after  it  had  been  read.  Besides  the 
devotional  effect,  such  use  had  a  very  practical  side  to 
commend  it.  There  was  no  need  to  read  the  Sentences  so 
slowly  that  their  meaning  was  obscured,  and  it  made  the 
long  pauses  between  them  quite  unnecessary  so  that  by 
the  time  the  choir  had  chanted  the  last  Sentence, — Min- 
ister, bearers,  mourners  and  friends  were  in  their  allotted 
places  before  the  Burial  Psalms  were  sung. 

Of  course  Doctor  Little's  greatest  interest,  musically, 
lay  in  the  Choral  Eucharist,  though  he  was  content  to 
confine  his  own  part  to  monotoning.  The  Nicene  Creed, 
though  always  choral  on  the  great  festivals,  was  not  sung 
at  every  High  Celebration  until  Doctor  Longley's  days. 
Doctor  Little's  interest  in  the  people's  part  of  the 
Eucharist  was  evidenced  by  his  preference  for  the  Nicene 
Creed  being  read  except,  as  I  have  before  stated,  on  such 
days  as  Easter  Day,  Christmas  Day,  and  the  like.  It  is  of 
interest  to  note  that  those  musical  settings  of  the  opening 
words  of  the  Creed  arranged  for  the  Celebrant  alone 
found  no  favor  with  him.  He  preferred  the  Creed  from 
first  word  to  last  sung  by  the  choir  as  representing  the 
congregation,  and  he  was  most  particular  about  this  point 
in  Choral  Evensong  both  in  the  General  Confession  and 
the  Creed.  He  disliked  the  words  "Almighty  and  most 
merciful  Father,"  and  "I  believe  in  God,"  by  Minister 
alone, — and  choir  and  congregation  beginning  with  the 
words  following.    He  disapproved  of  such  use  because, 

139 


he  maintained,  that — particularly  in  the  Creed — it  took 
away  from  the  people  a  very  vital  part. 

No  greater  tribute  could  have  been  paid  to  Doctor 
Little  for  all  his  interest  in  the  Church's  music  at  S-t. 
Mark's  than  that  of  the  choir  at  his  funeral.  Many  of 
the  old  boys  were  present,  and  it  certainly  seemed  as 
though  their  emotion  found  expression  in  the  effectiveness 
of  their  work.  Mr.  Ernest  Sumner,  at  that  time  Choir- 
master of  St.  Luke's,  Evanston,  and  Musical  Critic  for  the 
Index  commented  upon  the  service  through  the  columns 
of  that  paper  as  follows  : 

"It  is  not  customary  in  this  column,  "Musical  Criti- 
cism," to  make  any  reference  to  music  at  church  services, 
but  the  work  of  the  choir  at  the  last  rites  for  the  late 
rector  of  St.  Mark's,  at  the  parish  church,  last  Saturday 
morning,  was  of  such  an  unusual  character  that  it  deserves 
to  be  recorded. 

"The  music  selected  for  the  Requiem  Mass  and  Office 
for  the  Burial  of  the  Dead  by  Mr.  Robert  Holmes,  for 
twenty  years  choirmaster  of  St.  Mark's  and  esteemed 
colleague  of  Dr.  Little,  was  in  entire  keeping  with  the 
sad  occasion.  The  singing  of  the  Sanctus,  Benedictus  and 
Agnus  Dei  as  set  by  John  Merbecke  in  his  "Booke  of 
Common  Praier  Noted,"  of  1550,  was  most  devotional, 
touching  and  comforting  to  the  hearts  of  the  sorrowing 
congregation.  The  hymns,  anthem,  and  Lutkin's  Seven- 
fold Amen  were  rendered  with  a  finish  seldom  attempted 
and  less  frequently  attained." 

The  service  was  helpfully  accompanied  by  Mr.  Louis 
Norton  Dodge. 


May  God  grant  that  he  who  so  delighted  in  the 
Church's  worship  and  music  here  below  may  find  rest 
and  happiness  in  that  blest  place  where,  after  the  changes 
and  chances  of  this  mortal  life,  the  ineffable  sweetness 
of  the  celestial  choirs  may  reach  him  in  ever-increasing 
beauty,  until  that  day  when  by  God's  grace  we  with  him 
shall  attain  to  the  fullness  of  the  Beatific  Vision. 


130 


g)unbrj>  ^arisilj  l^ecorbs; 


Official  letters  relative  to  the  organization 
of  St.  Mark's  Parish: 

Vestry  Records. 
Guild  Records. 
Choir  Records. 


Chapter  VI 


chapter  ^ix 

RECORDS  OF  ST.  MARK'S  CHURCH, 
EVANSTON. 


To  the  Rt.  Rev.  Henry  J.  Whitehouse,  D.  D.,  Bishop 
of  Illinois: 

The  undersigned  respectfully  represent  that  a  sub- 
scription has  for  some  time  past  been  in  circulation  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to  erect  a  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  at  Evanston,  Illinois,  and  that  over 
two  thousand  dollars  has  been  subscribed  for  that 
object,  and  it  is  now  confidently  believed  that  a  suf- 
ficient sum  can  be  raised  to  erect  a  small,  but  neat 
and  tasteful  church  edifice  at  this  place  during  the 
ensuing  year. 

We  would  also  represent  that  in  our  opinion  a 
small  congregation  of  regular  attendants  upon  Divine 
Worship  could  immediately  be  secured,  together  with 
some  considerable  number  of  transient  attendants, 
and  that  the  prospect  for  an  increase  from  immigra- 
tion and  from  missionary  eflforts  in  the  neighborhood 
is  quite  encouraging.    We  think  a  parish  with  ten  or 

133 


twelve  communicants  at  the  commencement  could  be 
organized  in  this  place  with  a  prospect  of  growth 
and  usefulness. 

We  also  believe  that  several  hundred  dollars  per 
annum  could  be  raised  either  by  pew  rents  or  sub- 
scriptions towards  the  expense  of  supplying  the  pulpit 
at  least  a  part  of  the  year,  or  for  partial  services  for 
the  whole  year. 

Wherefore :  We  whose  names  are  herewith  af- 
fixed, deeply  sensible  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  Re- 
ligion, and  earnestsly  desirous  of  promoting  its  holy 
influences  in  our  own  hearts  and  in  those  of  our 
families  and  neighbors,  do  hereby  associate  ourselves 
under  the  name  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  Evanston,  in 
communion  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  Diocese  of 
Illinois,  the  authority  of  whose  Constitutions  and 
Canons  we  do  hereby  recognize  and  to  whose  Liturgy 
and  mode  of  Worship  and  Discipline  we  promise  con- 
formity. 

Evanston,  December  12,  1863. 

Charles  Comstock  Albert  Johnson 

John  A  Lightall  S.  B.  Chase 

A.  G.  Wilder  Andrew  T.  Sherman 

J.  H.  Kedzie  H.  Clay  Cone 

O.  R.  W.  Lull  Thomas  Wicks 

F.  M.  Weller  Wm.  C.  Comstock 

F.  G.  Siller  D.  P.  Crocker 


I  hereby  give  the  Canonical  consent  required  for 
the  organization  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  Evanston. 

(Signed)       Henry  J.  Whitehouse, 

Bishop    of    Illinois. 

Chicago,  April  2,  1864. 

134 


In  pursuance  of  the  application  before  herein  recited 
for  the  organization  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  Evanston, 
and  the  Canonical  consent  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
of  Illinois  thereto  appended,  the  following  notice  was 
given  as  certified  to  below — to  wit : 

"In  accordance  with  Sec.  I,  Canon  VIII  of  the 
Diocese  of  Illinois,  I  hereby  give  notice  that  on  Wednes- 
day the  20th  of  April,  there  will  be  Divine  Service  in 
the  Methodist  Church  in  this  place  at  half  past  seven 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  at  the  close  of  the  service  a 
meeting  of  all  persons  interested  therein  for  the  organiza- 
tion and  establishment  of  a  parish  to  be  in  union  with  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  Illinois 
and  to  be  known  by  the  style  and  title  of  St.  Mark's 
Church,  Evanston.  At  the  same  time  and  place  there  will 
be  held  an  election  for  two  Wardens,  who  shall  be  com- 
municants of  the  Church,  and  of  not  less  than  four  and 
not  more  than  eight  Vestrymen  who  shall  be  baptized 
persons,  if  such  can  be  had,  to  constitute  the  Vestry  of 
said  Church." 


I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  notice  was  duly  given 
as  prescribed  by  Canon  on  the  occasion  of  public  morning 
service  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Northwestern  University  in 
the  Town  of  Evanston,  on  Sunday,  April  3rd,  being  the 
First  Sunday  after  Easter,  A.D.  1864. 

(Signed)     John  Wilkinson, 

Chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of  Illinois. 


April  20th,  1864. 

At  7^  o'clock  P.  M.,  Divine  Service  was  held  in 
the  Methodist  Church  in  the  Town  of  Evanston,  con- 
ducted by  the  Rev.  John  Wilkinson,  after  which  a  meet- 
ing was  organized  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  notice  pre- 
sided over  by  said  Rev.  John  Wilkinson,  and  J.  H.  Kedzie 
was  elected  Secretary. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  persons  present 
who  were  qualified  to  vote,  viz: 

Charles  Comstock  J.  H.  Kedzie 

A.  G.  Wilder  F.  M.  Weller 

John  A.  Lightall  F.  G.  Siller 

H.  B.  Hurd  H.  Clay  Cone 

D.  J.  Crocker  J.  S.  Hayward 

John  Lyman  W.  C.  Comstock 

The  foregoing  Constitution  was  then  read  and  on 
motion  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  this  parish  be- 
come organized  under  the  Laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
by  the  adoption  of  said  Constitution.  On  motion  of  D.  J. 
Crocker  it  was  resolved  that  the  congregation  now  pro- 
ceed to  elect  a  Senior  and  Junior  Warden  by  viva  voce 
vote.  Charles  Comstock  was  then  duly  elected  as  Senior 
Warden,  and  D.  J.  Crocker  as  Junior  Warden  of  this 
parish. 

On  motion  of  Charles  Comstock  it  was  resolved  that 
the  congregation  do  now  proceed  to  elect  eight  Vestry- 
men for  this  parish  by  viva  voce  vote.  Thereupon  the 
following  persons  were  duly  elected :  J.  H.  Kedzie,  A.  G. 
Wilder,  John  A.  Lightall,  H.  B.  Hurd,  F.  M.  Weller, 
H.  Clay  Cone,  F.  G.  Siller,  and  O.  R.  W.  Lull. 

On  motion  this  meeting  then  adjourned. 

John   Wilkinson, 
Chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of  Illinois. 

(Signed)     J.  H.  Kedzie, 

Secretary. 


136 


RECTORS  OF  ST.  MARK'S 


J.  W.  Buckmaster Sept. 

Thomas  Lyle   May   26, 

A.  J.  Barrow Nov.  21, 

C.  S.  Abbott April    1, 

J.  Stewart-Smith Feb.    14, 

Frederick  S.  Jewell... May     6, 
Richard  Hay  ward  .  .  .  .Jan.    31, 

Arthur  W.  Little Nov.     1, 

Harry  S.  Longley Feb.      1, 

Arthur  Rogers Oct.      1, 


1865 

April 

1, 

1867 

1867 

June 

7, 

1869 

1869 

Aug. 

30, 

1870 

1872 

Dec. 

31, 

1875 

1876 

Jan. 

4. 

1880 

1880 

Aug. 

31, 

1885 

1886 

May 

1. 

1888 

1888 

Sept. 

28, 

1910 

1911 

Oct., 

23, 

1912 

1913 

CURATES 

Vincent  C.  Lacey 1902 

Edwin  Johnson 1903 

Russell  J.  Wilbur 1903  Jan.     1905 

Walter  G.  Blossom Mch.  1905  Nov.  1905 

Herbert  A.  Wilson Mch.  1908  Sept.  1909 

George  J.  Zinn Nov.  1909  April  1910 

George  R.  Arnold June  1910  Jan.    191 1 

Robert  Holmes Dec.  1915  June  1918 


SUNDAY  SCHOOL  SUPERINTENDENTS 

Mr.  Charles  S.  Burch,  about  1893. 

Mr.  Thomas  C.  Moore, 

Mr.  Henry  C.  Tilden, 

Mr.  Henry  J.  Sawe. 

Mr.  Robert  Holmes, 

Mr.  Thomas  I.  Stacey,  1907. 

There  are  no  old  records  of  the  Sunday  School  from  which 
to  draw  reliable  information  as  to  Superintendents  until  1907.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  Mr.  Stacey  undertook  the  care  and  manage- 
ment of  the  School,  but  he  was  first  connected  with  it  as  a  teacher 
in  1891. 


137 


SENIOR   AND   JUNIOR  WARDENS   OF 
ST.  MARK'S  PARISH 

(Commencing  with  the  organization  of  the  Parish, 
April  20,  1864) 


SENIOR  WARDEN        JUNIOR  WARDEN 

April  20,  1864-1865  Charles  Comstock  D.  J.  Crocker 
April  17,  1865-1873  Charles  Comstock  A.  G.  Wilder 
April      1,  1872  "No  parish   meeting   being  held  and   no 

election  of  ofificers  being  made,  the  existing 
wardens  hold  over  for  the  year  ending  at 
Easter,  1873." 
April    14,  1873-1874     Charles   Comstock       F.  F.   Phillips 
April      6,  1874  "No  votes  being  cast,  there  was  no  elec- 

tion.     The    election    of    the    wardens    and 
vestrymen  of  last  year  hold  over   for  the 
next  Church  year." 
Mar.     29,  1875-1876     Charles  Comstock        C.  D.  Paul 
April    17,  1876-1881     Charles  Comstock        Wells   Lake 
April    18,  1881  (There  seems  to  be  no  record  of  the  an- 

nual  meeting  on   Easter   Monday,    1881) 
April    10,  1882-1883     Charles   Comstock       Wells  Lake 
Mar.     26,  1883  (No  record  of  annual  meeting  in  1883) 

April    14,  1884-1893     Charles   Comstock       Marshall  M.  Kirkman 
April      4,  1893-1895     Charles   Comstock       Francis   A.   Hardy 
May     21,  1895-1896     Charles   Comstock       Henry   S.   Slaymaker 
May    ,12,  1896-1900     Henry  S.  SlaymSker  Francis  A.  Hardy 
May       8,  1900-1913     Henry  S.  Slaymaker  Edw.   H.   Buehler 
May       6,  1913-1916     Edw.  H.  Buehler         Wm.  S.  Powers 
May     15,  1916-1918     Edw.  H.  Buehler         Richard  C.  Hall 
May     13,  1918  Edw.  H.  Buehler         Richard  C.  Hall 


(Mr.  Comstock  died  in  September,  1895.  Mr.  Slaymaker 
was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  October  21st,  and  Mr.  Buehler 
succeeded  Mr.  Slaymaker  as  Junior  Warden.) 


IBS 


FIRST  VESTRY  OF  ST.  MARK'S 

(Elected  on  the  evening  on  which  the  Parish  was  organized, 
Wednesday,  April  20,  1864.) 


SENIOR  WARDEN— Charles   Comstock. 
JUNIOR  WARDEN— D.  J.  Crocker. 

Vestrymen 

H.  Clay  Cone  J.  A.  Lightall  F.  M.  Weller 

H.  B.  Kurd  O.  R.  W.  Lull  A.  G.  Wilder 

J.  H.  Kedzie  F.  G.  Siller 


FIFTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  (April  25,  1914) 

SENIOR  WARDEN— Edward  H.  Buehler. 
JUNIOR  WARDEN— William  S.  Powers. 

Vestrymen 

Charles  S.  Barber       Thomas  H.  Eddy  Weston  G.  Kimball 

Robert  S.  Clark  Richard  C.  Hall  Thomas  I.  Stacey 

George  E.  Dix  Carl  S.  Jefferson  Frank  M.  Staples 

William  H.  Johnson 

Clerk  of  the  Vestry — Thomas  I.  Stacey 
Treasurer — Frank  M.  Staples 

Special  Treasurer  of  Missionary  and  Extra-Parochial  Funds 
Edward  H.  Buehler 


THE  PRESENT  VESTRY  (June  30,  1918) 

SENIOR  WARDEN— Edward  H.  Buehler. 
JUNIOR  WARDEN— William  S.  Powers. 

Vestrymen 

J.  Rex  Allen  Dwight  F.  Clark  Carl  S.  Jefferson 

Charles  S.  Barber  Thomas  H.  Eddy  William  T.  Reeves 

George  H.  Batchelder  George  R.  Folds  Thomas  I.  Stacey 
John  B.  Green 

Clerk  of  the  Vestry — George  R.  Folds 
Treasurer — J.  Rex  Allen 

Special  Treasurer  of  Missionary  and  Extra-Parochial  Funds 
Edward  H.  Buehler 

139 


THE  WOMAN'S  GUILD— Presidents 

1889  (and  previous  thereto)  Mrs.  Henry  Hinsdale 

1889-1890  Mrs.  F.  A.  Hardy 

1890-1891  Mrs.  George   Moseley 

1891-1892  Mrs.  Charles   S.  Burch 

1892-1893  Mrs.  Helen    M.    Ide 

1893-1894  Mrs.  F.  A.  Hardy 

1894-1895  Mrs.  A.   D.   Bishop 

1895-1897  Mrs.  P.   C.    Lutkin 

1897-1899  M^ts.  W.  F.  Dudley 

1899-1900  Mrs.  Royal   Vilas 

1900-1901  Mrs.  Earl  W.  Spencer 

1901-1902  Mrs.  Martha  Sherman 

1902-1903  Mrs.  James  K.  Armsby 

1903-1904  Mrs.  Frank   M.   Staples 

1904-1907  Mrs.  Richard  H.  Wyman 

1907-1908  Mirs.  Henry  C.  Tilden 

1908-1914  Mrs.  Frederick  Arnd 

1914-1917  Mrs.  Joseph  K.  Lewis 

1917-  Mrs.W.  F.  Childs 

(When  the  Woman's  Guild  was  organized  with  Mrs.  Hins- 
dale as  its  first  President,  it  was  known  as  St.  Mark's  Guild.) 


THE   MOTHERS'   GUILD— Presidents 

1898-1901     Mrs.  E.  James 

1901-1903     Mrs.  J.  Trenbeth 

1903-1904     Mrs.  W.  Bowers 

1904-1905     Mrs.  J.  Bowdish 

1905-1907     Mrs.  P.  C.  Lutkin 

1907-1909     Mrs.  W.  H.  Underdown 

1909-1911     Mrs.  S.  Webber 

1911-1913     Mrs.  J.  C.  Kincaid 

1913-1915     Mrs.  A.  Esplin 

1915-1917     Mrs.  R.  W.  Wilton 

1917-1918     Mrs.   J.   C.  Woodington 

1918-1919     Mrs.  J.  Brearley 

The  Mother's  Guild  owes  its  origin  to  the  wise  foresight  of 
Mrs.  P.  C.  Lutkin,  who  felt  the  need  for  such  an  organization 
in  St.  Mark's  parish.  Her  active  interest  and  wise  counsel 
throughout  the  twenty  years  of  the  Guild's  existence  has  con- 
tributed much  to  its  success,  and  to  the  usefulness  of  the  work 
in  which  it  is  always  engaged  in  its  own  quiet  and  unobtrusive 
way. 

■       140 


ST.  CATHERINE'S  GUILD— Presidents 


1908-1912  Mrs.  William  A.  Pusey 

1912-1916  Mrs.  E.  Warner  Coburn 

1916-1917  Miss  Mary  Fabian 

1917-  Miss  Dorothy  Hall 


THE  MEN'S   CLUB— Presidents 


1905-1906  William  B.  Bogert 

1906-1907  William  S.  Powers 

1907-1908  William  F.  Dudley 

1908-1909  Thomas  D.  Huff 

1909-1910  Edward  CHfford 

1910-1911  Thomas  H.  Eddy 

1911-1912  Frederick  B.  McMullen 

1912-1913  Edmund  T.   Perkins. 

1913-1914  John  S.  Talbot 

1914-1915  Dwight  F.  Clark 

1915-1916  Henry  M.  Huxley 

1916-1917  Thomas  H.  Eddy 

1917-1918  George  R.  Folds 

1918-1919  Watkin  W.  Kneath 


(The  Men's  Club  of   St.  Mark's  was  organized  by  Doctor 
Little  in  the  fall  of  1905.) 


141 


CHOIRMASTERS  AND  ORGANISTS 
OF  ST.  MARK'S 


Choirmasters 

John  Evans May  1887-Feb.  1888 

Robert  Holmes Feb.  1888-Sep.  1890 

Charles  M.  Kirk Oct.  1890-Mar.  1891 

Robert  Holmes Jan.    1893-June  1918 

Organists 

William  Graves Jan.  1885-April  1891 

James  Watson Feb.  1893-Jan.    1894 

Charles  R.  Adams Feb.  1894-Nov.  1902 

Curtis  A.  Barry Dec.  1902-Sep.  1906 

Louis  N.  Dodge Jan.  1907-Aug.  1913 

Stanley  A.  Martin Sep.  1913- June  1918 

Choirmasters  and  Organists 

Charles  M.  Kirk April  1891-April  1892 

John  C.  Dunster April  1892-Dec.  1892 

Stanley  A.  Martin June  1918- 


List  of  Choir  Boys  in  Old  St.  Mark's  on  Davis  Street 
June,  1888 

William  I.  A.  Beale  Thomas  Hobbs 

William  Blanchard  A.  Tracy  Kirkman 

S.  Lee  Chapman  M.  Jay  Kirkman 

William  G.  Burt  William  Shepherd 

Roger  Douglas  William  A.  Stacey 

Edward  Gamble  Gaylord  S.  Wilcox 
Ralph  Hayden 

(At  this  time  there  were  not  more  than  three  or  four  men, 
among  whom  were  Mr.  William  Ashwell  and  Mr.  Robert  J. 
Hobbs.  Doctor  L.  F.  Pooler's  name  first  appears  as  a  choir  boy 
in  1889.  His  membership  has  been  almost  continuous  from  that 
year  up  to  the  present  time.  Frederic,  his  son,  entered  the  ranks 
last  year,  so  that  the  name  Pooler  is  likely  to  be  on  our  choir 
records  considerably  over  thirty  years.) 


List  of  Choir  Boys  in  the  New  St.  Mark's  on  Ridge 
Avenue — January,  1893 

W.  Ayrault  Clair  Lewis 

William  Balding  Russell 

Warner  Coburn  John  Stockton 

Charles  Donnell  David  Williams 

Rex  Hardin  Elliott  Williams 

George  Harrison  Earl  Scripps 
Edward  Jernegan 

(This  was  the  complete  list  of  the  Juniors  when  I  resumed 
charge  of  the  choir  in  1893.  During  that  year  the  records 
show  for  the  first  time  such  names  as  John  Cramer,  George 
Cramer,  Robert  Ridlon,  Lorin  Calkins,  Ralph  Hubbart,  Gilbert 
Griggs,  Edward  Hardy,  Charles  and  Everett  Marsh,  Bert  In- 
graham,  Carl  Griggs,  Harold  and  Rush  Hess.) 

143 


ST.  MARK'S  CHOIR 

Leading  Attendances  for  Twenty-Five  Years 
Ending  April  30,   1918 

Choir  Year 
Ending  Name  Rehearsals     Services 

March  31,  1894     Lee,  Joseph   116  110 

Lewis,  Clair    Ill  110 

Griggs,    Gilbert     103  101 

Donnell,  Charles   62  95 

April  30,  1895       Cramer,  George    123  124 

Cramer,  John  L 123  124 

Graham,  John   116  122 

Howard,  Samuel   Ill  111 

Aprils,  1896        Ingraham,   Samuel  G 103  104 

Cramer,   John   L 101  103 

Johnston,   William    95  106 

McConnell,  Percy  95  95 

April  17,  1897       Hanchett,  Harold    109  110 

Ingraham,   Samuel   G 109  110 

Kaynor,  Carl   109  109 

Gifkin,   Colin    100  100 

April  10,  1898       Cramer,   George    109  114 

Graham,  Carl   108  114 

Davis,  John    106  109 

Hanchett,  Harold   102  106 

April  2,  1899        Hebblethwaite,  Leon  L 101  111 

Allen,   Winfred    100  110 

Stanbery,    Edward    101  109 

Graham,  Carl  96  104 

April  30,  1900      Hebblethwaite,  J.  Edward...   119  116 

Hebblethwaite,  Leon  L 119  116 

Edwards,   Norman    119  116 

Stanbery,  Edward 117  116 


144 


May  24,  1901        Hebblethwaite,  Frank  P.  . . .   10-i  104 

Stanbery,    Edward    104  104 

Hebblethwaite,  J.  Edward...     96  98 

Underdown,  Alfred  J 98  95 


May  16,  1902        Huntington,  C.  Roland 106  105 

McCabe,  William  H 105  104 

Hebblethwaite,  J.  Edward...   105  102 

Dart,  William  A 99  103 


May  31,  1903        Dart,  William  A 102  114 

McCabe,  William  H 102  114 

Ashwell,  John  A 98  109 

Burgess,  George   97  108 


May  22,  1904        McCabe,  William  H 99  107 

Richardson,  Robert   99  107 

Allen,   Harry    94  102 

Burgess,   George   88  100 


Tune  11,  1905       McCabe,    Royal   S 115  110 

McCabe,  William  H 115  110 

Hebblethwaite,  Frank  P.   .  . .  113  110 

Baxter,  T.  Marshall Ill  105 


June  3,  1916         Ashwell,  John  A 95  104 

Hoe,  J.  Reginald  94  104 

McCabe,  William  H 92  104 

Park,   J.  Roy 92  100 


May  19,  1907        Park,  J.  Roy   94  101 

Hoe,  J.  Reginald  93  101 

Wyatt,   Rodney   91  100 

Dart,  William  A 89  99 


June  7,  1908         Park,   J.    Roy 109  116 

Dart,  William  A 107  114 

Kincaid,  Herbert  J 104  110 

Hoe,  J.  Reginald  101  110 


May  30,  1909        Dart,   Robert  E 120  107 

Crampton,  Jowett  115  104 

Webber,  S.  Arthur 115  103 

Pitts,  William  A Ill  100 

145 


May  15,  1910        Arnold,  George  R 124 

Webber,  S.  Arthur 124 

Webber,  John  K 123 

Hoe,  Charles   118 

June  4,  1911         Webber,  John  K 121 

Kappler,  Frederick  114 

Webber,  S.  Arthur  114 

Dart,  Robert  E 112 

May  26,  1912        Ashwell,   W.   Edward 136 

Ashwell,   Arthur   H 134 

Ferguson,    Charles    H 124 

Ferguson,  J.  Larnard 122 

April  30,  1913      Ashwell,   Arthur   H 132 

Piehl,   William  L 131 

Hunton,   Frank    128 

Pihl,    Elmer    125 

April  30,  1914      Ellis,  Gerald  V 157 

Ashwell,  J.  Edward 157 

Piehl,   William   L 157 

Trenbeth,   George   R 154 

April  30,  1915      Ashwell,  J.  Edward 152 

Ellis,  Gerald  V 152 

Ratcliffe,  Myron  F 151 

Ratcliffe,  Robert  L 151 

April  30,  1916      Arnold,  Atlee  S 153 

Ashwell,  J.  Edward 153 

Ratcliffe,  Myron  F 153 

Ratcliffe,    Robert   L 153 

April  30,  1917      Ashwell,  J.  Edward 147 

Ratcliffe,    Robert    L 147 

Ellis,  Gerald  V 146 

Waring,   LeCompte    136 

April  30,  1918      Arnold,   Atlee   S 140 

Ashwell,  J.  Edward 140 

Ellis,  Gerald  V 140 

Pooler,  Frederick  S 139 


107 
107 
107 
104 


110 
118 
109 
107 

106 

108 

97 

93 

103 

102 

101 

98 

113 
113 
113 
110 


100 
100 
100 
100 


106 
106 
106 
106 


102 

102 

101 

96 


107 

107 
107 
107 


146 


^.,M 

iJii 

i 

'  '^'  W^ 

.  "A 

I   r  W^ 


ST.  MARK'S  CHURCH 
(West  Front  and  Nave) 


ST.  MARK'S  CHOIR 


(On  the  occasion  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the 
new  church,  May  18,  1890.) 

Boys 

Julian  Armstrong  John  C.  Mulford 

Louis  D.  Beale  L.  Fiske  Pooler 

William  I.  Beale  William  A.  Stacey 

Edward  Gamble  Hale  Taft 

Carl  S.  Harrison  S.  Gaylord  Wilcox 

Robert  Holabird  M.  Jay  Kirkman 

William  Ingraham  A.  Tracy  Kirkman 

Men 

Edward  L.  Colebeck  Elvis  C.  Marshall 

John  T.  Hancock  Frank  A.  Miller 

M.  M.  Harris  Theodore  F.  Reese 

Herbert  A.  S-treeter 


Dennis  C.  Worthington,  Crucifer. 
William  Graves,  Organist. 

Robert  Holmes,  Choirmaster. 

Charles  S.  Burch,  Lay  Reader. 
Arthur  Wilde  Little,  Rector. 

In  addition  to  the  above  names,  those  of  Charles 
Comstock,  Senior  Warden;  Marshall  M.  Kirkman,  Junior 
Warden;  Francis  A.  Hardy,  Treasurer;  Henry  S.  Slay- 
maker,  Clerk  of  the  Vestry,  also  Edward  H.  Buehler, 
Joseph  J.  Charles,  John  A.  Comstock,  George  E.  Gooch, 
Henry  Post  and  George  G.  Wilcox,  Vestrymen,  were  in- 
cluded in  the  same  list  and  deposited  with  other  papers  in 
the  corner  stone. 

147 


TENTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  CHOIR 

Whitsunday,  June  6,  1897 


Trebles 


Gerald  Butler 
George  Cramer 
Harry  Drummond 
Francis  Fabian 
Colin  Gifkin 
Marshall  Gooch 
Carl  Graham 
Lionel  Greiner 


Leon  L.  Hebblethwaite 
William  W.  Henderson 
Lawrence  Hess 
Samuel  G.  Ingraham 
Thomas  James 
William  B.  Johnstone 
Donald  Kaynor 
Nathan  Mears 


Earl  Scripps 


Altos 


Edwin  Allen 
John  Q.  Davis 
Harold  G.  Hanchett 


Carl  Kaynor 
Percy  McConnell 
Elliott  H.  Wendell 


Tenors 


William  Ashwell 
S.  Lee  Chapman 
Luther  D.  Henderson 


Mott  Mitchell 
Alfred  K.  Swan 
LeRoy  W.  Warren 


Robert  C.  Fletcher 
Charles  H.  Mowry 
L.  Fiske  Pooler 


Basses 


Charles  L.  Scripps 
John  H.  Verrall 
William  A.  Stacey 


Librarians 

John  L.  Cramer  and  Horace  Grier,  Librarians. 

Charles  A.  Donnell,  Crucifer. 

Charles  R.  Adams,  Organist. 

Robert  Holmes,  Choirmaster. 

Rev.  Arthur  W.  Little,  L.H.D.,  Rector. 

148 


TENTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  CHOIR 
Whitsunday,  June  6,  1897 


EVENSONG  (5:00) 
Organ  Prelude.  .  .  .March  from  Athalie.  . .  .Mendelssohn 


Processional  Hymn  490 "Austria" 

Glorious  Things  of  Thee  Are  Spoken 

Psalter Psalms  104,  105 Gregorian 

Magnificat  in  A Myles  B.  Foster 

Nunc  Dimittis  in  A Myles  B.  Foster 

Hymn  375 "St.   Ciithhert" 

Our  Blest  Redeemer 


Organ  Allegretto  Grazioso  in  D Tours 

Anthem I  Will  Mention Sullivan 

Solo.. Lord  God  of  Abraham  ("Elijah") .  .M^nrf^/.yjo/m 
Quartette .. Cast  Thy  Burden  {'''EW'idih") .  .Mendelssohn 

Anthem E.V.  Hall 

When  God  of  Old  Came  Down  from  Heaven 
Organ,  Canzonetta Brewer 

Trio   Mendelssohn 

Lift  Thine  Eyes  ("EHjah'') 
Chorus. ..The  Heavens  Are  Telling  (" Creation" )...//ayrfn 


Ofifertory Organ  Concerto  in  B  flat Handel 

{First  Movement) 

Processional  Hymn  403 "Materna" 

O  Mother  Dear,  Jerusalem 


Organ  Postlude  in  F West 

149 


TWENTY-FIRST  ANNIVERSARY 
OF  THE  CHOIR 

List  of  Choristers  Present  on  the  Afternoon  of 
Whitsunday,  June  7,  1908 


Boys 


Ashwell,  John,'02 
Crampton,  Jowett,  '07 
Cunningham,  Oliver  B., 
Dart,  Robert  E.,  '07 
Dart,  William  A.,  '01 
Dupuis,  Julian  N.,  '07 
Hebblethwaite,  Frank  P., 
Hoe,  J.  Reginald,  '04 
Hypes,  S.  Loomis,  '08 
Iredale,  Raymond  H.,'06 


'05 


'00 


Johnson,  W.  Elliott,  '04 
Johnson,  Harold  W.,  06 
Kincaid,  Herbert  J.,  04 
Miller,  Edmond  S.,  '07 
McCabe,  Royal  S.,  '02 
Park,  J.  Roy,  '05 
Pitts,  William  A.,  '08 
Stiles,  Frederic  C,  '04 
Strong,  Leonard  C,  '08 
Taylor,  Norman  G.,  '07 


Former  Juniors  Serving  as  Acolytes  for  This  Service 


Ingraham,  I.  J.,  '98 
Jenkins,  Harold  T.,  '03 
McCabe,  William  H.,  '01 


Onderdonk,  Lawrence,  '00 
Lewis,  Raymond  P.,  '04 
Richardson,  Robert,  '02 


Men 


Chapman,  S.  Lee,  '87 
Coflfman,  Ansel  V.,  '01 
Fletcher,  Robert  C,  '09 
Hart,  Charles  H.,  '02 
Hayden,  Ralph  W.,  '87 
Ingraham,  Samuel  G.,  '03 


Iredale,  Earl  C,  '98 
Masslich,  George  B.,  '' 
Marriott,  Richard  G., 
McNulty,  Bernard  G. 
Potter,  H.  R.,  '05 
Streeter,  Herbert  C,  ' 


'00 


Stevens,  Charles  N.,  '03 

George  D.  Lewis,  '98,  Librarian 

Roland  Clifford  Huntington,  '00,  Crucifer. 
Louis  Norton  Dodge,  Organist. 

Robert  Holmes,  Choirmaster. 

Rev.  Herbert  A.  Wilson,  Curate. 

Rev.  Arthur  Wilde  Little,  Rector. 

(This  was  the  first  attempt  to  call  together  any  of  the  old 
boys  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  Choir  Anniversary  a  sort 
of  home-coming.  It  is  well  worth  recording  that  Mr.  S.  Lee 
Chapman,  one  of  the  boys  of  the  choir  of  1887,  has  kept  in 
touch  with  St.  Mark's  ever  since.  He  appears  in  all  anniversary 
groups  framed  and  now  hanging  in  the  choir  room.) 


150 


TWENTY-FIRST  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE 
CHOIR. 

Whitsunday,  June  7,  1908 


EVENSONG  (4:30) 
Prelude — Adagio,    Fifth    Sonata Guihnant 


Processional  Hymn  407 Fmrlamh 

For  Thee,  O  Dear,  Dear  Country. 

Psalter — Psalms    104,    145 Gregorian 

Magnificat  in  B  flat Lutkin 

Nunc  Dimittis  in  B  flat Lutkin 

Hymn  418 — O  God,  Our  Help  in  Ages  Past.  ."St.  Anne" 

Organ    St.   Saens-Giiilmant 

"Le  Cygne" 

Anthem — O  God,  When  Thou  Appearest Mozart 

(Motett  No.  i) 

Solo  and  Chorus — A  New  Heaven  and  a  New  Earth. Gcu/ 
("Holy  City") 

Offertory  Anthem — Who  Is  Like  Unto  Thtt.  .Sullivan 

Te  Deum  in  F Smart 

Processional    Hymn   491 "Anrelia" 

The  Church's  One  Foundation. 


Postlude — Chromatic    Fantasie Thiele 

151 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY 
OF  THE  CHOIR 

Whitsunday,  May  26,   1912 


Allen,  Charles  L.,  '12 
Allen,  J.  Rex,  Jr.,  '12 
Ashwell,  Arthur  H.,  '10 
Ashwell,  W.  Edward, 
Crew,  William  H.,  'OJ 
Dart,  Robert  E.,  '07 
Elliott,  John  G.,  '11 
Ferguson,  Charles  H. 
Ferguson,  J.  Larnard, 
Hunton,  Paul,  '12 


'12) 


11 


Boys 

Johnson,  Carlton  E., 
Johnson,  Harold  W.,  '06 
Longley,  Harry  S.  M.,  '11 
Myers,  Edmund  W.,  '11 
Parsons,  Harvey  D.,  '12 
Piehl,  William  L.,  '11 
Pihl,  Elmer  L.,  '11 
Reeves,  Clement,  '11 
Trenbeth,  George  R.,  '11 
Walter,  J.  Lorenzo,  '11 


Former  Juniors  Serving  as  Acolytes  at  This  Service 

Dart,  William  A.,  '01  Jenkins,  Harold  T.,  '03 

Dupuis,  Julian  M.,  '07  Kappler,  Fred  W.,  '10 

Johnson,  W.  Elliott,  '04  Richardson,  Robert,  '02 

Johnson,  Norman  L.,  '04  Stiles,  Frederic  C,  '04 

Men 

Hanchett,  Harold  G.,  '95 
Hebblethwaite,  Frank  P.,  '00 
Hebblethwaite,  J.  Edward,  '98 
Huntington,  C.  Roland,  '00 
Iredale,  Earl  C,  '98 
Jenkins,  William  D.,  '99 
Lewis,  George  D.,  '98 
Lewis,  Raymond  P.,  '04 
Manley,  Horace  A.,  '07 
Masslich,  George  B.,  '98 
Pooler,  L.  Fiske,  '89 
Smith,  Carlisle  M.,  '12 
Smith,  D.  Watson,  '12 
Sonnen,  William  C,  '10 
Specht,  Edward  L.,  '99 
Stevens,  Charles  N.,  '03 
John  H.,  '94 


Arnold,  George  R.,  '08 
Arnold,  Paul  M.,  '08 
Ashwell,  William,  '88 
Baxter,  T.  Marshall,  '03 
Baylis,  John  G.,  '09 
Champlin,  Charles  F. 
Chapman,  S.  Lee,  '87 
Clapp,  C.  Russell,  '99 
Coffman,  Ansel  V.,  '01 
Cramer,  John  L.,  '93 
Dow,  Andrew  M.,  '12 
Edwards,  Harvey  G.,  '10 
Erickson,  Melvin  S.,  '02 
Fletcher,  Robert  C,  '93 
Fox,  Elmer  W.,  '11 
Grier,  Horace,  '95 

Verrall, 

Royal  S.  McCabe,  '02,  Standard  Bearer. 
Reginald  Atkinson,  Crucifer. 

Clifford  Roland  Huntington,  '00,  Crucifer. 
John  W.  Ashwell,  '02,  Librarian. 

Louis  Norton  Dodge,  Organist. 
Robert  Holmes,  Choirmaster. 
Harry  S.  Longley,  A.M. 


Rector. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY 
OF   THE  CHOIR 

Whitsunday,  May  26,   1912 


EVENSONG  (4:30) 
Prelude — Marche  Religeuse Guilmant 

Opening  Hymn  289 Veni  Creator  No.  2 

Come,  Holy  Ghost 

Psalter,  Psalms  104,  145 Gregorian 

Magnificat  in  A  flat Mann 

Nunc  Dimittis  in  A  flat Mann 

Anthem  after  Third  Collect, Woodivurd 

The  Day  Thou  Gavest,    Lord 


Processional  Hymns — 

133     Hear  Us,  Thou  that  ^xooAt^X.  ."Whitsuntide" 
491     The  Church's  One  Foundation "Aureliaf' 


Organ,  Allegretto  Grazioso Brewer 

Anthem     Goss 

The  Wilderness 

Offertory    Anthem Handel 

Hallelujah 
Orison  Anthem,  Through  the  Day  (Men's  voices)  .Naater 

Te  Deum  in  F Smart 

National  Anthem,  Our  Father's  God,  to  Thee. ."America" 


Postlude,  Marche  Pontificale Lemmens 

153 


THIRTIETH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  CHOIR 
Whitsunday,  May  27,  1917 


Cross  Bearers 

Roland  Cliflford  Huntington,  '00 


AtLee  S.  Arnold,  '14 
W.  Edward  Ashwell,  '11 
Sidney  Avery,  '13 
Malcolm  S.  Balfour,  '15 
Jack  Corlett,  '16 
Thomas  H.  Creden,  '15 
Maurice  C.  Dodge,  '16 
Gerald  V.  Ellis,  '12 
Bertrand  Fox,  '16 
Stephen  S.  Fox,  '16 
John  M.  Halsted,  '15 


Trebles  and  Altos 

Robert  L.  Halsted, 


'15 


Franklin  W.  Jones,  '17 
William  Leffingwell,  '16 
Gerald  A.  Parsons,  '17 
Cedric  G.  Poole,  '15 
Frederick  Pooler,  '17 
Robert  L.  Ratcliffe,  '14 
William  T.  Reeves,  '14 
M.  LeCompte  Waring,  '16 
Frederick  G.  Wilton,  '13 
Aubrey  C.  Watson,  '14 


Parish  Banner 
Carlton  Evan  Johnson,'12 


Tenors  and  Basses 


William  Ashwell,  '88 
John  W.  Ashwell,  '02 
Arthur  H.  Ashwell,  '10 
Norman  D.  Browne,  '14 
Oliver  B.   Cunningham, 
S.  Lee  Chapman,  '87 
John  L.  Cramer,  '93 
J.  B.  Esden,  '13 
R.  C.  Fletcher,  '93 
Francis  G.  Fabian,  '96 
Freeman  Price,  '99 
Philip  Fox,  '16 
Robert  R.  Crenelle,  '16 
Clarence  W.  Howe,  '16 


Earl  C.  Iredale,  '98 
Norman  L.  Johnson,  '04 
W.  Elliott  Johnson,  '04 
Harold  W.  Johnson,  '06 
George  D.  Lewis,  '98 
George  B.  Masslich,  '98 
Harvey  D.  Parsons,  '12 
L.  Fiske  Pooler,  '89 
Robert  Richardson,  '02 
Frederick  D.  Raymond, 
Carlisle  M.  Smith,  '12 
William  C.  Sonnen,  '10 
C.  Nielson  Stevens,  '03 
John  H.  Verrall,  '94 


'16 


Harvey  D.  Parsons,  '12,  Librarian. 
Stanley  A.  Martin,  Organist. 

Rev.   Robert  Holmes,   Curate  and  Choirmaster. 
Rev.  Arthur  Rogers,  D.D.,  Rector. 

(Soon  after  this  thirtieth  anniversary  many  of  the  old  boys 
were  called  to  the  colors.  It  is,  therefore,  of  interest  to  note 
that  the  above  list  includes  the  names  of  Mr.  William  Ashwell 
and  those  of  his  sons — John,  Arthur  and  Edward;  also  all  of 
Mr.  William  H.  Johnson's  boys — Norman,  Eliott,  Harold  and 
Carlton. 

154 


THIRTIETH  ANNIVERSARY   OF  THE   CHOIR 


Whitsunday,  May  27,  1917 

EVENSONG   (4:30) 
Prelude — Marche  Pontificale Lemmens 


Opening  Hymn  289, Vent  Creator  No.  2 

Come,  Holy  Ghost 

Psalter.     Psalms  104,  145 Gregorian 

Magnificat  in  G Cruickshank 

Nunc  Dimittis  in  G Cruickshank 

A.nthem  after  Third   Collect Wesley 

Lead  Me,  Lord 

Hymn  136 Melcomhe 

Spirit  of  Mercy,  Truth  and  Love 

A.nthem    Gounod 

Hymn  of  the  Apostles   ("Redemption") 

Offertory  Anthem,  Hallelujah Beethoven 

("Mount  of  Olives") 

Te  Deum  in  B  flat Stanford 

Orison   Hymn   23 Parker 

Our  Day  of  Praise  Is  Done 

The  National  Anthem  (Hymn  196) "America" 

Processional  Hymn   133 "Whitsuntide" 

Hear  Us,  Thou  That  Broodest 


155 


ST.  MARK'S  CHOIR 
(Thirty-first  Anniversary,  May  19,  1918) 

The  endeavor  to  bring  together  for  the  thirty-first 
anniversary  such  choristers  as  were  not  in  our  country's 
service  succeeded  beyond  all  reasonable  expectations,  as 
will  be  seen  by  the  list  of  names  shown  below.  Weather 
conditions,  which  had  been  so  favorable  in  the  forenoon, 
changed  as  the  afternoon  wore  on,  and  just  before  the 
hour  of  service  rain  began  to  fall  and  a  tremendous 
thunderstorm  broke,  making  it  impossible  to  carry  out 
the  plan  of  entering  the  church  by  the  west  door,  which 
has  always  been  so  marked  a  feature  of  our  choir  anni- 
versary services. 


0xtitx  of  tfje  ^roces!£Jion 

Cross  Bearer 
Robert  Richardson,  '02 

United  States  Flag 

Charles  Ronald  Pegg,  '13 

Allied  Flags 

British — Edward  B.  Lumbard,  '14 
French — Charles  L.  Allen,  '12 
Italian— Dwight  F.  Clark,  Jr.,  '15 
Belgian — George  R.  Trenbeth,  '11 

Trebles  and  Altos 

AtLee  S.  Arnold,  '14  John  M.  Halsted,  '15 

W.  Edward  Ashwell,  '11  Robert  L.  Halsted,  '15 

Malcolm  S.  Balfour,  '15  Frederick  B.  Hanson,  '17 

Richard  B.  Cahill,  '18  Franklin  W.  Jones,  '17 
Howard  Clinkunbroomer,  '17       Carroll  H.  Jones,  '18 

Eric  S.  Coates,  '17  Gerald  A.  Parsons,  '17 

Jack  Corlett,  '16  Cedric  G.  Poole,  '15 

Thomas  H.  Creden,  '15  Cyril  Poole,  '17 

Gerald  V.  Ellis,  '12  Frederic  S.  Pooler,  '17 

Bertrand  Fox,  '16  William  T.  Reeves,  Jr.,  '1 

Stephen  S.  Fox,  '16  Frederick  G.  Wilton,  '13 

156 


Tenors  and  Basses 

William  Ashwell,  '88  Robert  J.  Hobbs,  '88 

Orville  J.  Borchers,  '18  Harold  G.  Hanchett,  '95 

Norman  de  M.  Browne,  '14  Clarence  W.  Howe,  '16 

Charles  F.  Champlin  Earl  C.  Iredale,  '98 

S.  Lee  Chapman,  '87  Harold  T.  Jenkins,  '03 

Arthur  B.  Elliott,  '17  Harold  W.  Johnson,  '06 

J.  B.  Esden,  '13  George  D.  Lewis,  '98 

Francis  G.  Fabian,  '96  Horace  A.  Manley,  '07 

Robert  C.  Fletcher,  '93  Harvey  D.  Parsons,  '12 

Carl  C.  Griggs,  '96  L.  Fiske  Pooler,  '89 

Robert  R.  Crenelle,  '16  Frederick  D.  Raymond,  '16 

J.  Edward  Hebblethwaite,  '98  Edward  L.  Specht,  '99 

Leon  L.  Hebblethwaite,  '96  William  C.  Sonnen,  '10 

Joseph  B.  Hobbs,  '09  John  H.  Verrall,  '94 

Cross  Bearer 

Harry  S.  M.  Longley,  '11 

Acolytes  J4 

J.  Russell  Scott  J.  Rex  Allen,  Jr.,  '12 


The  Curate 
The  Rector 

"The  procession,  stretching  down  the  south  aisle  and 
well  into  the  nave,  was  very  imposing,  and  the  effect  of 
the  Veni  Creator,  as  sung  to  the  old  Plainsong  setting 
upon  reaching  the  chancel,  was  quite  uplifting.  After  the 
procession  around  the  church  at  the  close  of  the  Office, 
the  annual  awarding  of  choir  medals  was  made.  The 
music  of  the  service,  selected  as  being  familiar  to  every- 
one rather  than  as  being  in  keeping  with  Whitsunday, 
was  marked  by  smoothness  and  expression,  which,  when 
one  considers  the  very  brief  preparation  possible,  was 
most  gratifying.  Following  the  service  the  old  and  new 
boys  with  a  number  of  friends,  fully  a  hundred  in  all, 
enjoyed  a  social  hour  over  refreshments  in  the  Parish 
House.  The  choirmaster  was  both  happy  and  thankful 
that  so  many  former  choristers  were  able  to  unite  in  cele- 
brating with  him  this  thirty-first  anniversary  of  the  choir 
— the  last  that  he  is  likely  to  share  with  them — and  he 


desires  to  express  his  appreciation  of  the  good  work  of 
Miss  Potter  and  her  assistants  in  their  excellent  arrange- 
ments at  the  supper  table. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  among  the  old  boys  present 
was  S.  Lee  Chapman,  one  of  the  choristers  of  1887,  when 
the  vested  choir  was  first  organized,  also  William  Ash- 
well  and  Robert  J.  Hobbs,  members  of  the  senior  ranks 
on  the  occasion  of  the  first  anniversary  in  1888,  and  L. 
Fiske  Pooler,  whose  connection  with  the  choir  goes  back 
to  1889.  It  is  also  of  more  than  passing  interest  to  re- 
cord that  among  the  boys  to  receive  medals  this  Whit- 
sunday was  Edward  Ashwell,  who  for  five  years  has 
missed  neither  rehearsal  nor  service  in  a  total  of  twelve 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  attendances,  and  that  Dr. 
Pooler's  son,  Frederic,  was  awarded  this  year's  attend- 
ance medal,  a  similar  award  of  merit  having  been  con- 
ferred upon  his  father  by  the  Rector  of  St.  Mark's  in 
1891,  which  Dr.  Pooler  still  wears  on  such  occasions  as 
the  choir  anniversary." 


158 


ST.  MARK'S  CHOIR 

(Former  Members  in  Our  Country's  Service) 


1908    Arnold,  George  R.,  Jr.;  Petty  Officer,  U.  S.  Navy. 
1908     Arnold,  Paul  M.;  2nd  Lt.  Field  Artillery,  Fort  Oglethorp, 
Georgia. 

1896  Butler,  Gerald  M.;  2nd  Lt.  Quartermaster's  Dept.,  Camp 

Grant,  111. 

1907  Clark,   Stuart  B. ;    1st  Lt.  U.   S.    Navy  Battleship   "South 

Carolina." 

1908  Crew,  William  H. ;  U.  S.  Naval  Academy,  Annapolis,  Mary- 

land. 

1909  Cook,  Clarence;  Great  Lakes,  Illinois. 

1907    Crampton,  Jowett;  122nd  Field  Artillery,  A.  E.  F.,  France. 
1905     Cunningham,  Oliver  B. ;  1st  Lt.  15th  Field  Artillery,  A.  E. 

F.,  France. 
1907     Dart,  Robert  E. ;  Co.  151,  Marine  Barracks,  Paris  Island, 

South   Carolina. 
1901     Dart,  William  A.;  72nd  Artillery,  Fort  McKinley,  Maine. 
1903    Erickson,  Melvin  B. ;  Capt.  N.  A.,  General  Barry's  Staff, 

Chicago. 
1916    Fox,  Philip;  Major  4th  Replacement  Regt.,  Camp  Gordon, 

Atlanta,  Ga. 
1911     Galitz,  Raymond;  131st  Infantry,  A.  E.  F.,  France. 

1897  Gooch,  Marshall  H. ;   Royal  Air  Force,  Hastings,  Sussex, 

England. 
1907     Gregg,  W.  Harold;  Battery  E.,  333rd  U.  S.  F.  A.,  Camp 

Grant,  Illinois. 
1916     Crenelle,  Robert  R. ;  Corporal,  Illinois  Reserve. 
1914     Hilliard,  Reid ;  Hospital  Unit  II,  Camp  Dodge,  Iowa. 
1900    Huntington,  C.  Roland ;  Corporal  333rd  F.  A.  N.  A.,  Camp 

Grant,  Illinois. 

159 


1912  Hunton,  Paul;  U.  S.  S.  "Nepatin,"  clo  Postmaster,  New 

York  City. 

1908  Hypes,  S.  Loomis ;  1st  Lt.  Infantry  O.  R.  C,  Camp  Grant, 

Illinois. 

1898    Ingraham,  Ira  Jay;  U.  S.  School  of  Photography,  Roches- 
ter, New  York. 

1904    Johnson,  Norman  L. ;  Corporal  21st  Engineers,  Headquar- 
ters Co.,  France. 

1904    Johnson,  W.  Elliott;  U.  S.  S.  U.  79,  New  England,  Con- 
necticut. 

1910     Kapler,  Frederick  W. ;  Corporal  Signal  Corps,  311th  F.  A. 
N.  A.,  Camp  Grant. 

1904    Lewis,  Raymond  P. ;  2nd  Lt.  131st  U.  S.  Infantry,  A.  E.  F., 
France. 

1901  McCabe,  William  H. ;  Signal  Corps,  U.  S.  N.  R.  F.,  Muni- 

cipal Pier,  Chicago. 

1904    McCauley,  Bruce  E. ;  U.  S.  Navy,  Great  Lakes,  Illinois. 

1904  McCauley,    Wilbur ;    U.    S.    Navy,    Radio    Signal    Service, 

Great  Lakes,  Illinois. 
1893     Moseley,    George   Van    Home ;    General   Staff,   A.   E.   F., 

France. 
1898    McNeill,  Malcolm  R.;  Lt.  U.  S.  N.,  Radio  Dept.,  Great 

Lakes,  111. 

1905  Park,  J.   Roy;   Chief   Machinist's  Mate,  U.   S.  N.,  Great 

Lakes,  Illinois. 

1909  Pitts,  Gilbert  J. ;  122nd  Field  Artillery,  A.  E.  F.,  France. 

1908  Pitts,  William  A.;  6th  F.  A.,  Fort  Doniphan,  Oklahoma. 

1902  Richardson,  Robert;   U.   S.   Naval  Reserve,  Great  Lakes, 

Illinois. 

1913  Rogers,   Horatio   R. ;   American  Tank   Service,  A.   E.   F., 

France. 

1909  Singleton,   Jouett   F.,   Jr.;   2nd   Lt.   5th   Machine   Bat., 

A.  E.  F.,  France. 
1912     Smith,  Carlisle  M.;  333rd  F.  A.  N.  A.,  Camp  Grant,  Illinois. 
1902    Spencer,  Egbert;  1st  Lt.  U.  S.  R.,  Camp  Grant,  Illinois. 
1901     Spencer,  E.  Winfield;  1st  Lt.  Aviation  Corps. 

1904     Stiles,   Frederic  Clayton,  2nd  Lt.   45th  U.   S.   Inf.,   Camp 
Gordon,  Atlanta. 

1907     Tilden,  Laurence  S.;  Corporal  333rd  F.  A.  N.  A.,  Camp 
Grant,  Illinois. 

160 


1905     Verrall,  Clement;  70th  Battery,  Canadian  Field  Artillery, 
France. 

1904     Walter,  Hamilton ;  2nd  Lt.  U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  Battleship 
"South  Carolina." 

1908    Webber,    Samuel    Arthur;    Shipwright,    U.    S.    N.,    Great 
Lakes. 


The  above  list  is  as  complete  and  up  to  date  as  it  is  possible 
to  make  it  at  this  time.  Figures  to  left  of  names  denote  year  in 
which  choir  membership  began. 

June,  1918.  Robert  Holmes,  Choirmaster. 


O  Almighty  and  merciful  God,  we  commend  to  thy  fatherly 
care  all  those  who  through  the  perils  of  war  are  serving  their 
country  by  land  and  by  sea,  especially  those  of  St.  Mark's  Choir. 
Thou  knowest  the  places  where  they  are,  and  the  dangers  which 
beset  them.  Be  thou  to  each  one  a  shield  and  a  defense.  In 
times  of  waiting  or  of  action,  in  sickness  or  in  health,  in  life 
or  in  death,  grant  unto  them  the  comfort  of  Thy  presence.  Help 
them  to  look  up  to  Thee.  And  if  it  be  Thy  will,  keep  them  in 
safety  and  bring  them  back  to  their  homes  in  peace,  through  our 
blessed  Saviour  and  Mediator,  Jesus  Christ.    Amen. 


3n  illemoriam 

Lieut.  Jouett  Fitch  Singleton,  Jr.,  was  wounded  in 
action  on  June  22,  1918,  and  died  the  following  day.  He 
was  the  first  of  the  boys  of  our  parish  to  make  the 
supreme  sacrifice.  A  Memorial  Service  was  held  for 
him  at  St.  Mark's  on  Sunday  afternoon,  July  21st. 


O  may  Thy  soldiers,  faithful,  true,  and  bold, 
Fight  as  the  Saints  who  nobly  fought  of  old, 
And  win  with  them  the  victor's  crown  of  gold. 
Alleluia. 


g>t  iMarfe'ss  Cfjoir  TLibxavv 


Chapter  VII 


chapter  ^eben 

ST.   MARK'S   CHOIR  LIBRARY 

Abt,  Franz  (1819-1885) 

Anthem — O  Lord  most  holy 

Adam,  Adolphe  C.   (1803-1856) 

Anthem— O,  holy  night  (Arr'd  by  J.  E.  West) 

Adams,  Thomas 

Communion   Service   in   D 
Anthems — Come  and  worship  the  Lord 
I  am  He  that  liveth 
Sleep,  Holy  Babe 
The  Lord  Omnipotent  reigneth 

Aitken,  G.  B.  J. 

Anthem — Christ  is  risen 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  E  flat 

Andrews,  Mark 

Anthems — Come,  Holy  Ghost 

Jesu,  the  very  thought  of  Thee 
O  sons  and  daughters 
The  angel  of  the  Lord 

Arcadelt,  Jacques   (1490-1556) 

Anthem — Give  ear  unto  my  prayer 

Arnott,  A.  Davidson 

Anthem — The  King  of  Love 


Attwood,  Thomas  (1796-1838) 
Anthems — Come,  Holy  Ghost 
Teach  me,  O  Lord 
Turn  Thy  face  from  my  sins 

Baldwin,  Samuel  A. 

Anthem — Tarry  with  me,  O  my  Saviour 

Barnby,  Joseph    (1838-1896) 

Anthems — Awake  up,  my  glory 

Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men 

O  how  amiable  are  Thy  dwellings 

O  Lord,  how  manifold  are  Thy  works 

O  Strength  and  Stay 

Sweet  is  Thy  mercy 

The  Lord  is  the  true  God 

Ye  shall  go  out  with  joy 

Barnicott,  Reginald  S. 

Anthem — O  worship  the  Lord   (A.  T.  T.  B.) 

Beethoven,  L.  Van  (1770-1827) 

Chorus — Hallelujah  (Mount  of  Olives) 

Bennett,  W.  Sterndale  (1816-1875) 

Anthems — God  is  a  spirit   (S.  A.  T.  B.) 
God  is  a  spirit   (A.  T.  T.  B.) 

Best,  W.  T.  (1826-1897) 

Anthem —  The  Lord  is  great  in   Sion 

Brahms,  Johannes 

Chorus — How  lovely  is  Thy  dwelling  place  (Requiem) 

Brewer,  A.  Herbert 

Anthem — Blessing,  glory,  wisdom  and  thanks 

Buck,  Dudley 

Te  Deum  in  D 

Button,  H.  Elliott 

Carol  Anthem — Come,  ye  lofty 
Anthem — Hearken  unto  this 

Caldicott,  Alfred  J. 

Anthem — If  I  go  not  away 

166 


Chadwick,  G.  W. 

Anthem — Morn's   roseate   hues 

Cobb,  Gerard  F.   (1838-1904) 

Anthem — I  heard  a  great  voice 

Coleridge-Taylor,  S. 

Anthem — O  ye  that  love  the  Lord 

Coombs,  C.  Whitney 

Anthem — How  lovely  upon  the  mountains 

Cruickshank,  W.  A.  C. 

Communion  Service  in  E  flat 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  G 

Anthems — Now  when  Jesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem 

O  Saving  Victim 

There  was  war  in  heaven 

Culley,  Arnold  D. 

Anthem — Thou  wilt  keep  him 

Dvorak,  Antonin  (1841-1904) 

Solo  and  Chorus— At  Thy  Feet   ("Stabat  Mater") 
Chorus — Blessed  Jesu  ("Stabat  Mater") 

Dykes,  Rev.  J.  B.  (1823-1876) 
Te  Deum  in  F 

Elgar,  Edward 

Anthem — Fear  not,  O  land 

Elvey,  George  J.  (1816-1893) 
Anthems — Arise,  shine 

Praise  the  Lord 

Eyre,  Alfred  J. 

Communion  Service  in  E  flat 

Faure,  J. 

Solo  and  Chorus — "The  Palms" 
Duet — "Crucifix"    (Come   Unto   Him) 

Field,  J.  T. 

Te  Deum  in  D 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  D 
Anthems — God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears 
Hail !  Gladdening  Light 
Let  us  now  go  even  unto  Bethlehem 
Whosoever  drinketh  of  this  water 

167 


Florio,  Caryl 

Magnificat  in  G 

Foote,  Arthur 

Anthem — God  is  our  refuge  and  strength 

Foster,  Myles  B. 

Communion  Service  in  C 

Te  Deum  in  C 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  A 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  C 

Anthems — Eye  hath  not  seen 

Hark  the  glad  sound 

Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled 

Oh  !   for  a  closer  walk  with  God 

There   were   shepherds 

Gadsby,  Henry 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  D 
Anthem — O  Lord,  our  Governour 

Gale,  Clement  R. 

Anthem — Sing,  O  heavens 

Garrett,  George  M.   (1834-1897) 

Benedictus  and  Agnus  Dei  from  Service  in  A 

Te  Deum  in  E  flat 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  E  flat 

Anthems — I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven 

Praise  ye  the  Lord  for  His  goodness 
Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord 
The  Lord  is  loving  unto  every  man 

Gaul,  Alfred  R. 

Anthems — Behold  the  heaven  of  heavens 

Blessed   are  the   departed    ("Passion") 

For  thee,  O  dear,  dear  country   ("Holy  City") 

A  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth  ("Holy  City") 

No  shadows  yonder  ("Holy  City") 

The  eyes  of  all  wait  upon  Thee 

Solo — These  are  they    ("Holy   City") 

German,  Edward 

Intercessory  Hymn 


Goodhart,  A.  M. 

Magnificat  and   Nunc  Dimittis  in  B  flat 

Goss,   Sir   John    (1800-1880) 

Anthems— I  will  magnify  Thee 
O    praise    the    Lord 
O  Saviour  of  the   world 
O  taste  and  see 
The  King  shall  rejoice 
The  Wilderness 

Gounod,    Charles    (1818-1893) 

Communion   Service    ("St.   Cecilia") 
Anthems — "Gallia" 

Jesu,  Word  of  God 

Nazareth 

Nazareth  (arr'd  by  J.  E.  West) 

Praise  ye  the  Father 

Send  out  Thy  light 

Hymn  of  the  Apostles  ("Redemption") 

Jesus   appearing  to  the  disciples    ("Redemption") 

Lovely  appear   ("Redemption") 

Unfold,  ye  portals  ("Redemption") 
Solos — Glory  to  Thee,  my  God,  this  night 
The  King  of  Love 

Gretchaninoff, 

Anthem— The  Cherubic  Hymn 

Hadley,  Henry  K. 

Te  Deum  in  A  (Unison) 

Hall,  Rev.  E.  Vine 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  D 
Anthems — Come,  ye  faithful 
When  God  of  old 

Hall,  King   (1845-1895) 

Communion    Service  in   C. 
Anthems— And  the  angel  said  unto  her 

O   Lord,   my  trust   is   in   Thy   mercy 

Handel,  George  Frederic   (1685-1759) 
From  the  "Messiah" — 
Comfort  ye  my  people 
Ev'ry  valley  shall  be  exalted 
And  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
But  who  may  abide 
Behold,  a  virgin  shall  conceive 

169 


0  thou  that  tellest 

For  behold,  darkness  shall  cover 

The  people  that  walked  in  darkness 

There  were  shepherds 

And  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord 

And  the  angel  said 

And  suddenly  there  was 

Glory  to  God 

Rejoice  greatly 

Then  shall  the  eyes  of  the  blind 

He  shall   feed  His  flock 

He  was  despised 

Hallelujah 

1  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth 
Worthy  is  the  Lamb 

Hanscom,  E.  W. 

Anthem — Brightest  and  best 

Harris,  Cuthbert 

There  shall  a  star 

Thou,  O  God,  art  praised  in  Sion 

Haydn,  Joseph  (1732-1809) 

Chorus— The   heavens    are   telling    ("Creation") 

Haynes,  Battison 

Communion  Service  in  E  flat 

Anthem — Lo,  God,  our  God  has  come 

Haywood,  John 

Benedicite  in  G  flat 

Himmel,  E.  H. 

Anthem — Incline  Thine  ear 

Hollins,  Alfred 

Anthem — O  worship  the  Lord 

Hopkins,  J.  L.  (1820-1873) 
Te  Deum  in  G. 
Anthem — Lift   up   your   heads 

Horsley,  C.   E.    (1822-1876) 

I  was  glad  when   they  said  unto  me 

Hyde,  Herbert  E. 

Anthem — Bread  of  the  world 


Iliffe,  Frederick 

Magnificat   and   Nunc   Dimittis   in   G. 

Jordan,  C.  .Warwick 
Te  Deum  in  C. 

Jeffery,  J.  Albert 
Benedicite  in  F. 

King,  Oliver 

Carol  Anthem — In  a  stable  lowly 

Kingston,  Matthew 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  A  flat 

Lahee,  H. 

Anthem — O  Lord,  rebuke  me  not 

Lloyd,  C.  H. 

Magnificat  -and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  A. 
Anthem — Blessed  be  Thou 

Lutkin,  Peter  C. 

Te  Deum  in  B  flat 

Te  Deum  in  C. 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  B  flat 

Anthems — I   will   sing   of   Thy   power 
The  day  is  past  and  over 
The  Lord  bless  you 
The   Lord    shall    comfort   Zion 

Mann,  A.  H. 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  A  flat 

Marchant,  Arthur  W. 
Te  Deum  in  E  flat 
Anthem — Great  is  the  Lord 

Marks  Jr.,  J.  C. 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  D. 
Anthem — Remember  not.  Lord,  our  offences 

Martin,  George  C. 

Anthems — As  it  began  to  dawn 
Hail !  gladdening  light 
The   great   day   of   the    Lord 

Martin,  Stanley  A. 

Te  Deum  in  B  flat 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  E  flat 

171 


Maunder,  J.  H. 

Anthem — Praise  the  Lord,  O  Jerusalem 
Cantatas — "Bethlehem" 

"Olivet  to   Calvary" 

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy,    Felix    (1809-1847) 
From  "Elijah" — 

If  with  all  your  hearts 

Lord  God  of  Abraham 

Cast  thy  burden 

O  Lord,  Thou  hast  overthrown 

Thanks  be  to  God 

Lift  thine  eyes 

He  watching  over  Israel 

O  rest  in  the  Lord 

For  the  mountains  shall  depart 

Then  shall  the  righteous 

O  come,  every  one  that  thirsteth 
From  "St.  Paul" — 

But  the  Lord  is  mindful 

Sleepers  wake, 

O  God,  have  mercy 

Now  we  are  ambassadors 

How  lovely  are  the  messengers 
From  the  "Hymn  of  Praise" — 
I  waited  for  the  Lord  ("Hymn  of  Praise") 
O  come,  let  us  worship   (95th  Psalm) 
There  shall  a   star    ("Christus") 
Say,   where   is    He  born    ("Christus") 
Hear  my  prayer 
Judge  me,  O  God 

Moir,  F.  L. 

Communion  Service  in  D. 

Monk,  W.  H. 

Anthem — If  ye  love  me  keep  my  commandments 

Moore,  Harold 

Cantata — "The  Darkest  Hour" 

Mozart,  W.  A.    (1756-1791) 

Ave  verum — Jesu,  Word  of   God 

Gloria — Glorious   is  Thy  Name    ("Twelfth   Mass") 

Motett  No.  I. — O  God,  when  Thou  appearest 

Naater 

Anthem— Through  the  day  (T.  T.  B.  B.) 

172 


Naylor,  E.  W. 

Anthems — Behold,   God  is  great 

God,   that   madest   earth   and   heaven 
Through  the  day 

Neidlinger,  W.  H. 

Anthem — O  little  town  of  Bethlehem 
Solo  and  Chorus — The  Birthday  of  a  King 

Novello,  Vincent  (1781-1861) 
Anthems — Like  as  the  hart 

Sing  unto  the  Lord 

Oakeley,  Herbert 

Anthem — Comes  at  times 

Ouseley,  F.  A.  G. 

Anthems — From  the  rising  of  the  sun 
It  came  even  to  pass 

Parker,  Henry 

Solo  and   Chorus — "Jerusalem" 

Parker,  Horatio  W. 

Communion  Service  in  B  flat 
Te  Deum  in  E. 

Parrv,  C.  Hubert 
Te  Deum  in  D. 

Randegger,  Alberto 

Anthems — Praise  the  Lord 

Praise  ye  the  Lord    (150th   Psalm) 

Rea,  William 

Anthem — My  soul  truly  waiteth 

Roberts,  J.  Varley 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  C. 
Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  E. 
Anthems — Call    to    remembrance 

I  will  lift  up  mine  eyes 

In  the   fear   of   the   Lord 

Lord,  we  pray  Thee 

Seek  ye  the  Lord 

When  Christ,  Who  is  our  life 

173 


Rossini,  G.    (1792-1868) 

Chorus — To  Thee,  great  Lord 

Inflammatus — When  Thou  comest  ("Stabat  Mater") 

Schachner,  J.  R. 

Anthem — Sound  the  loud  timbrel 

Selby,  B.  Luard 
Te  Deum  in  A. 
Anthem— New  every  morning  . 

Shelley,  H.  R. 

Anthems — Hark!    Hark  my   soul 
Saviour,  when  night 
The  King  of  Love 

Simper,  Caleb 

Benedicite  in  A  flat 

Smart,  Henry   (1813-1879) 
Te  Deum  in  F. 
Gloria  in  excelsis   (Service  in  F.) 

Somervell,  Arthur 
Te  Deum  in  F. 

Spinney,  Walter 

Anthem— Ye  that  stand  in  the  house  of  the  Lord 

Stephens,  Charles  E. 
Te  Deum  in  C. 

Spohr,  L.  (1784-1859) 

From  the  "Last  Judgment" 

Recit. — And  every  creature 

Chorus — Blessing,  honour,  glory  and  power 

Air  and  Chorus — Blest  are  the  departed 

Recit. — Come  up  hither 

Air  and  Chorus — Holy,   Holy,   Holy  _ 
Anthem — As  pants  the  hart   ("Crucifixion") 

Stainer,  Sir  John  (1840-1901) 
Communion  Service  in  F. 
Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  E  flat 
Cantata — "The  Crucifixion" 
Solo — My  hope  is  in  the  everlasting 

174 


Duet — Love  Divine,  all  love  excelling 
Anthems — 

Grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit 

Hosanna  in  the  highest 

I  am  Alpha  and  Omega 

It  came  upon  the  midnight  clear 

Jesus  said  unto  the  people 

Leave  us  not 

O  clap  your  hands 

O  Zion,  that  bringest  good  tidings 

Story  of  the  Cross 

The  hallowed  day 

They  have  taken  away  my  Lord 

Thus  speaketh  the  Lord  of  Hosts 

What  are  these 

Ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land 

Stanford  C.  Villiers 
Te  Deum  in  B  flat 
Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  B  flat 

Steggall,  Charles  (1823-1905) 

Anthem — God  came  from  Teman 

Stevenson,  Frederick 

Anthem —  I  sought  the  Lord 

Stewart,  H.   J. 

Anthem— God,  Who  at  sundry  times 

Sullivan,  Sir  Arthur  S.   (1842-1900) 
Anthems — I  will  mention 

I  will  sing  of  Thy  power 

Lead,  kindly  Light 

Turn  Thy  face 

O  gladsome  light   ("Golden  Legend") 

O  love  the  Lord 

O  taste  and  see 

The  sacrifices  of  God  ("Prodigal  Son") 

Who  is  like  unto  Thee 

Yea,  though  I  walk 

Surette,  T.  W. 

Anthems— Out  of  the  deep 

We  then  as  workers 

Tours,  Berthold   (1838-1905) 
Communion  Service  in  F. 
Te  Deum  in  F. 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  F. 
Anthem — Sing,  O  heavens 

175 


Tozer,  Ferris 

Anthem — Weary  of  earth 

Trembath,  H.  G. 

Anthem — Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled 

Tschaikovsky,  P. 

Anthem — Hymn  to  the  Trinity 

Vicars,  G.  R. 

Anthem — Watch  ye  and  pray 

Vincent,  Charles 

Anthem — As  it  began  to  dawn 

Wagner,  Richard   (1813-1883) 

Anthem — Father  of  Love  ("Lohengrin") 

Walmisley,  T.  A.  (1814-1856) 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  D  minor 

Wareing,  H.  W. 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  G. 
Anthem — He  sendeth  the  springs 

Watson,  Michael 

Anthem —  O  worship  the  Lord 

Westbury,  G.  H. 
Te  Deum  in  A. 

Webbe,  W.  Y. 
Anthem — God  is  our  refuge 

Wesley,  S.  S.  (1810-1876) 

Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father 
Lead  me  Lord 

West,  J.  A. 

Anthem — Hark!  Hark  my  soul 

Solo — It  came  upon  the  midnight  clear 

West,  J.  E. 

Magnificat  and  Nunc  Dimittis  in  E  flat 
Anthems — All  people  that  on  earth  do  dwell 
God  be  merciful  unto  us 
Let  us  now  fear  the  Lord  our  God 
Now  is  Christ  risen 
O  come.  Redeemer  of  mankind 

176 


O  Trinity  of  Blessed  Light 
The  eternal  God  is  our  refuge 
The  Lord  hath  done  great  things 
With  all  Thy  hosts 
The  Lord  is  exalted 

Williams,  C.  Lee 

Anthem — I  will  lay  me  down 

Woodward,  Rev.  H.  H. 

Anthems — Behold,  the  days  come 
Comes  at  times 
Rejoice  greatly 
The  radiant  morn 
The  day  Thou  gavest 
The  souls  of  the  righteous 
The  splendours  of  Thy  glory 
The  sun  shall  be  no  more  thy  light  by  day 

Young,  G.  Coleman 

Anthem — Thy  word  is  a  lantern 


(No  music  is  included  in  the  foregoing  catalogue  which  has 
not  been  sung  by  St.  Mark's  Choir) — R.  H. 


177 


a  Eetrosfpect 


Chapter  VIII 


Cijapter  Ctgtt 

A  RETROSPECT 

The  present  rector  of  St.  Mark's  has  well  said  thai 
"The  work  of  Dr.  Little's  later  years  was  much  hindered 
by  poor  health."  It  was  indeed.  Only  those  who  were 
near  to  him  realized  to  some  extent  the  weight  of  the  bur- 
den he  carried  and  some  of  the  disadvantages  under 
which  he  labored  in  maintaining  that  work.  For  myself, 
I  confess  to  a  far  greater  admiration  for  him  in  the  sec- 
ond half  of  his  pastorate  when,  as  it  seemed,  he  was 
frequently  compelled  to  row  up  stream,  than  in  the  days 
when  with  wind  and  tide  in  his  favor,  progress — as  the 
average  man  counts  it — was  possible  with  no  apparent 
effort. 

As  a  preacher.  Dr.  Little  exercised  an  influence  far 
beyond  the  bounds  of  St.  Mark's  parish.  This  may  have 
been  due  in  some  measure  to  his  Reasons  for  Being  a 
Churchman  which  obtained  so  wide  a  circulation,  and 
which  after  thirty-five  years  is  much  read.  To  those  who 
preferred  sermons  along  purely  ethical  lines,  of  course, 
he  did  not  appeal.  He  was  ever  jealous  for  the  Church's 
honor.  He  was  zealous  for  the  spread  of  the  Church's 
cause  and  the  Church's  teaching.  Those  who  were  privi- 
leged to  hear  his  sermons  year  after  year  will  recall  how 
he  never  failed  to  instruct  his  hearers  in  the  things  con- 


cerning  the  Church,  the  Kingdom  of  God  upon  earth,  as 
the  recurrence  of  the  great  Feasts,  Fasts,  and  Saints' 
Days  of  the  Christian  Year  gave  him  opportunity. 
Ethical  teaching,  however,  was  by  no  means  neglected. 
Along  with  doctrinal  instruction  the  teaching  of  ethics 
ever  had  its  proper  place,  but  the  latter  was  never  allowed 
to  crowd  out  the  former. 

In  matters  relating  to  the  Sunday  School  Dr.  Little 
had  very  strong  convictions.  He  beheved  most  firmly,  as 
I  do,  that  the  Sunday  School  is  the  nursery  of  the  Church. 
He  held  that  if  as  children  grow  to  riper  years  the  Sun- 
day School  does  not  lead  them  to  take  their  places  in  the 
regular  services  of  the  Church,  it  is  but  half  fulfilling  its 
mission.  Here  is  an  old  story,  but  one  well  worth  repeat- 
ing. One  Sunday  morning  the  Doctor  had  occasion  to 
refer  to  the  work  and  proper  place  of  the  Sunday  School, 
and  as  he  warmed  up  to  his  subject  he  used  these  words: 
"If  the  Sunday  School  is  to  take  the  place  of  the  Church, 
it  would  be  better  at  the  bottom  of  the  Lake."  There  are 
people,  some  of  whom  were  at  church  that  particular 
morning,  who  seem  to  have  a  mania  for  carrying  away 
half  truths.  It  soon  became  widely  known  in  Evanston 
that  the  rector  of  St.  Mark's  did  not  believe  in  Sunday 
Schools  and  wished  them  all  at  the  bottom  of  the  Lake. 
This  incident  furnishes  about  as  good  an  illustration  of  a 
half  truth  as  any  I  have  yet  heard,  and  I  have  never  failed 
to  use  it  in  the  children's  Confirmation  classes  as  one  of  the 
most  serious  ways  of  breaking  the  Ninth  Commandment. 
Such  a  story  died  hard  and  Dr.  Little  never  heard  the  last 
of  it.  Even  as  recently  as  1910 — the  year  in  which  he 
died — a  person,  not  belonging  to  St.  Mark's,  revived  it. 
"See,"  said  he,  "Dr.  Little  did  not  believe  in  Sunday 
Schools,  did  he?"  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  know  of  no 
person,  clergyman  or  otherwise,  who  was  a  more  ardent 
advocate  of  the  proper  use  of  the  Sunday  School  than  Dr. 
Little,  as  Mr.  Thomas  I.  Stacey,  our  faithful  superintend- 
ent for  so  many  years,  can  very  well  testify.  It  was  the 
abuse  and  not  the  use  of  the  Sunday  S-chool  that  Dr.  Little 
decried.  His  great  regret  was  that  our  Church  Sunday 
Schools  were  not  three  or  four  times  their  usual  size. 

182 


His  views  on  the  necessity  for  Sunday  Schools,  especially 
in  these  days,  would  have  the  hearty  endorsement  of  every 
Protestant  minister  in  Evanston. 

At  the  time  Dr.  Little  passed  away,  on  the  Eve  of 
Michaelmas  Day,  1910,  he  had  been  rector  of  St.  Mark's 
for  nearly  twenty-two  years.  The  size  of  the  classes  he 
presented  for  Confirmation  varied,  as,  of  course,  such 
classes  will,  from  year  to  year.  Now  and  again  they  were 
disappointingly  small,  and  I  can  still  hear  the  chronic 
fault-finders  of  those  days  as  they  drew  comparisons 
between  their  own  parish  and  others  of  the  diocese  of 
Chicago.  I  have  been  led  to  touch  upon  this  phase  of 
Dr.  Little's  work  by  the  comment  of  his  successor,  the 
Rev.  H.  S.  Longley,  after  his  brief  pastorate  of  less  than 
two  years  at  St.  Mark's.  In  the  course  of  a  conversation 
with  Dr.  Longley,  before  he  left  our  parish  for  his  work 
as  Sufifragan  Bishop  of  Iowa,  he  said  to  me,  in  substance, 
that  in  his  opinion  Dr.  Little's  Confirmation  classes 
showed  wonderful  work,  and  gave  as  the  basis  of  such 
opinion  that  for  twenty-two  years  the  doctor  had  main- 
tained an  average  of  nearly  thirty  candidates. 

Today,  the  results  of  Dr.  Little's  long  pastorate  may 
not  be  as  apparent  as  they  might.  This  one  thing  may 
be  said,  however,  that  whether  present  results  are  great 
or  otherwise,  he  did  what  he  could.  Nothing  is  more 
certain  than  that  his  life  work  will  be  appraised  at  its  real 
value  through  the  perspective  of  years.  St.  Mark's  parish 
— St.  Mark's  church — was  everything  to  him.  His  very 
life  was  built  into  its  material  walls.  His  conception 
of  what  a  parish  church  stands  for  and  of  the  spiritual 
helps  to  be  found  within  it  is  well  set  forth  in  the  closing 
part  of  the  fine  address  he  made  at  the  laying  of  the 
corner  stone.  He  always  lived  to  further  the  carrying  out 
of  the  ideals  he  then  pictured. 

It  seems  perfectly  natural  to  refer  to  the  Doctor  in 
the  closing  chapter  of  these  Reminiscences.  As  I  break 
away  from  the  surroundings  that  he  created  and  that  I 
have  known  for  thirty  years,  he  claims  my  thoughts  even 
though  it  is  nearly  eight  years  since  we  worked  together. 
I  would  unite  these  words  with  other  similar  words  writ- 

183 


ten  for  the  July  parish  magazine  which  I  am  giving  here, 
knowing  that  they  will  carry  a  last  word  of  farewell  to 
many  who  never  see  The  Lion  of  St.  Mark. 


June  the  thirtieth,  the  Fifth  Sunday  after  Trinity, 
brought  my  official  relation  with  St.  Mark's  parish  to  a 
close.  I  dreaded  that  last  S-unday  and  was  relieved  and 
thankful  when  it  was  over.  Today  I  find  myself  asking 
what  I  shall  most  miss,  whether  the  choir  or  the  work 
among  the  children  as  I  have  had  recent  opportunity. 
Five  years  ago  I  might  have  answered  that  my  greatest 
concern  would  have  been  for  those  interests  with  which 
I  have  been  associated  since  1888,  that  is,  with  the  choir. 
It  is  not  so  now.  On  December  the  nineteenth,  two  and 
a  half  years  ago,  I  was  ordained  to  the  Diaconate  by 
Bishop  Anderson,  and  I  am  conscious  of  looking  at  things 
in  these  days  from  a  somewhat  different  angle  than  be- 
fore. For  several  years  I  have  conducted  the  opening 
service  and  instruction  of  the  Primary  Department  of  the 
Sunday  School  in  our  Lady  Chapel,  and  since  my  ordina- 
tion I  have  been  privileged  to  hold  the  Children's  Services 
in  Lent  and  the  Children's  Confirmation  Classes.  It  is 
this  work,  on  its  ministerial  side,  that  appeals  increasingly 
to  me ;  not  that  I  love  the  music  less,  despite  the  fact  that 
one  has  occasionally  been  placed  in  trying  positions,  but 
that  I  love  the  services  themselves  more. 

Had  it  been  possible  I  would  have  preferred  to  say  a 
personal  Good-bye  to  every  one,  but  as  this  is  quite  out 
of  the  question  when  so  many  are  leaving  or  have  already 
left  for  their  summer  holiday  may  I,  through  these  pages, 
convey  a  parting  greeting  through  the  columns  of  the 
parish  magazine  from  Miss  Holmes  and  myself  to  all 
those,  within  and  beyond  the  parish,  whom  we  have 
known  so  long  and  from  whom  we  have  received  mani- 
fold assurances  of  interest  and  affection.  And  I  can  form 
no  better  wish  than  that  contained  in  the  closing  verse 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-first  Psalm. 

For  nearly  two  months  I  seem  to  have  been  giving 

184 


THE  REV.  ROBERT  HOLMES 
Curate   and   Choirmaster,   June,    1918 


and  receiving  farewell  greetings.  They  began  in  May, 
when  the  monthly  gathering  of  the  Sunday  School  in  the 
church  on  Whitsunday  took  the  form  of  a  Farewell  Serv- 
ice and  I  was  made  the  recipient  of  a  gold  watch,  with 
finely  engraved  monogram  on  the  back  and  an  inscription 
within  which  is  more  to  me  than  the  watch  itself.  Two 
weeks  later  I  received  from  Mr.  Martin,  in  behalf  of  the 
Choir,  a  parting  gift  of  a  gold  Cross  and  chain.  And 
on  Monday,  June  the  twenty-fourth,  after  a  farewell 
luncheon  given  at  the  Union  League  Club,  Chicago,  at- 
tended by  the  Rector,  the  Vestry,  the  President  of  the 
Men's  Club,  and  my  successor  as  Choirmaster,  Mr.  Stan- 
ley A.  Martin,  I  went  home  the  richer  in  this  world's 
goods  by  $1,000.00,  which  the  Rector  presented  in  behalf 
of  the  Vestry  and  Congregation  of  St.  Mark's.  I  have 
but  heartfelt  thanks  to  offer  in  return  for  such  handsome 
remembrances,  the  worth  of  which  was  added  to  in  no 
small  degree  by  many  kindly  words.  More  than  all,  how- 
ever, do  I  appreciate  the  gracious  courtesy  of  the  ladies  of 
the  parish  in  arranging  for  Miss  Holmes  a  farewell  re- 
ception on  Friday  afternoon,  June  the  seventh,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Thomas  H.  Eddy.  I  wish  to  join  my  sister 
in  thanking  most  sincerely  all  who  had  any  part  in  this 
reception  or  in  the  gift  of  a  very  beautiful  gold  wrist 
watch  which  she  received  on  that  occasion. 


I  first  knew  Evanston  in  1888.  I  had  been  living 
with  an  English  family  in  Chicago  and  when  they  decided 
to  make  their  home  in  Evanston  I  was  induced  to  come 
out  with  them.  At  that  time  I  was  a  member  of  the 
Cathedral  Choir,  Chicago,  which  was  under  the  direction 
of  Mr.  Edgar  C.  Lawton,  who  recently  passed  to  his  rest 
and  reward,  and  over  whose  mortal  body  I  read  the  words 
of  Committal.  No  one  who  knew  Mr.  Lawton  and  the 
hold  he  had  upon  his  boys  will  be  surprised  to  learn  that  I 
kept  up  my  membership  in  the  Cathedral  Choir  for  nearly 
a  year  after  coming  to  Evanston.  I  used  to  pass  the  little 
brown  wooden  church  of  St.  Mark  on  Davis  street — 
the  site  which  is  now  occupied  by  the  Eleanor  Apartments 

185 


— every  morning  and  every  night  and  occasionally  at- 
tended the  Stinday  afternoon  service,  but  it  never  oc- 
curred to  me  that  I  should  ever  be  associated  with  it  as 
Choirmaster.  Still  less  did  I  dream  that  my  tenure  of 
office  in  that  capacity  would  round  out  some  thirty  years 
and  lead,  indirectly,  to  my  entering  the  Diaconate.  Yet 
so  it  has  proved. 

One  Sunday,  as  I  was  leaving  St.  Mark's  after  at- 
tending Evensong,  the  Rector,  the  Rev.  Richard  Hay- 
ward,  asked  for  a  word  with  me,  and  in  the  course  of 
conversation  enquired  if  I  would  not  undertake  the  charge 
of  the  choir  during  a  temporary  absence  of  the  Choir- 
master, Mr.  John  Evans.  After  some  consideration  I 
consented  to  do  so.  Though  I  had  never  filled  such  a 
position  before,  yet  I  had  been  a  chorister  from  my  eighth 
year  onward,  and  doubtless  it  was  the  experience  of  those 
years  that  helped  my  first  work  at  St.  Mark's.  At  any 
rate,  what  was  at  the  outset  spoken  of  as  temporary  was 
presently  offered  to  me  as  a  permanent  position  and  I  ac- 
cepted it.  I  mention  this  merely  to  show  that  the  office  of 
Choirmaster  at  St.  Mark's  was  not  of  my  seeking. 

In  less  than  three  months  the  parish  was  without 
a  Rector  and  remained  so  until  in  November  of  that  year 
—1888— the  Rev.  Arthur  W.  Little  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Portland,  Maine,  entered  upon  his  pastorate  of  nearly 
twenty-two  years.  During  the  interim  of  some  six  months, 
in  which  the  services  were  conducted  by  various  clergy- 
men within  and  without  the  diocese,  some  of  whom  were 
aspirants  for  the  vacancy,  I  found  myself  called  upon 
now  and  again  for  help  other  than  that  of  the  choir.  Thus 
began  those  years  in  which  I  gradually  grew  into  parish 
work  as  emergencies  arose.  Just  when  I  first  read  or 
intoned  any  part  of  the  service  I  cannot  now  recall,  but  I 
think  it  was  not  long  after  the  present  St.  Mark's  church 
was  opened.  Certainly  it  was  twenty-five  years  ago,  for 
my  earliest  license  as  Lay  Reader  from  Bishop  McLaren 
dates  back  to  1892. 

As  I  leave  St.  Mark's,  my  thoughts  fly  back  to  the 
Rector  under  whom  and  with  whom  I  worked  for  twenty- 
two  years.     I  want  to  place  myself  on  record  as  owing 

186 


to  him  a  debt  that  I  can  never  repay.  Leaving  aside  mu- 
sic, I  want  first  of  all  to  speak  of  Doctor  Little  as  a 
priest  of  the  Church.  My  family  has  for  generations 
back  belonged  to  the  Church,  indeed  I  have  no  reason  to 
think  that  they  were  ever  otherwise.  I  grew  up  as  one 
to  the  manner  born,  yet  it  remained  for  Doctor  Little — 
a  convert  to  the  Church — to  teach  me  and  many  others 
what  the  Church  really  is  and  what  it  should  mean  to 
every  one  of  her  members.  It  was  often  said  of  him 
that  he  dwelt  too  much  upon  the  Church  and  her  doc- 
trine. This,  however,  is  not  strange  of  any  man  who 
enters  the  Church  and  the  Church's  ministry  through 
conviction  brought  about  by  reading  and  study.  The  real 
wonder  would  be  that  such  a  man  could  do  otherwise  than 
set  forth  those  principles  which  had  exercised  so  power- 
ful an  influence  in  bringing  him  into  the  Church.  St. 
Mark's  must  ever  remain  indebted  to  Doctor  Little  for 
such  vital  lessons  in  Church  teaching  as  may  be  drawn 
from  the  Comstock  Memorial  Altar  and  the  great  East 
Window. 

In  material  things,  too,  the  parish  should  remember 
what  it  owes  to  Doctor  Little.  But  for  his  knowledge  of 
real  church  architecture,  his  suggestions  as  to  plans  and 
his  constant  watchfulness  that  those  plans  were  closely 
followed  we  might  have  been  burdened  with  an  ecclesias- 
tical monstrosity  only  too  common  a  quarter  of  a  century 
ago.  It  is  quite  safe  to  say  that  few  among  the  newer 
parishioners  of  St.  Mark's  give  a  thought  as  to  who  was 
responsible  for  an  edifice  which  is  so  good  to  look  upon 
both  within  and  without.  Bishop  McLaren  is  known  to 
have  said  that  the  building  of  St.  Mark's  Church,  Evans- 
ton,  created  a  desire  for,  and  paved  the  way  to  an  im- 
provement in  church  architecture  throughout  the  diocese 
of  Chicago  from  that  time  forward.  When  I  stepped  into 
the  church  with  Doctor  Rogers  on  the  occasion  of  his 
visit  to  Evanston  before  he  accepted  the  call  to  St. 
Mark's  I  remember  his  favorable  comment  on  the  stained 
glass  windows.  There  came  at  once  to  my  mind  an  inci- 
dent of  long  ago.  Some  of  us  are  aware  that  from  the 
very  first  there  was  a  definite  plan  outlined  for  the  win- 


dows  in  our  parish  church  which  provided  for  Old  Testa- 
ment subjects  in  the  north  aisle  and  New  Testament  sub- 
jects on  the  opposite  side.  A  memorial  was  offered  for 
the  north  aisle,  having  for  its  subject  the  Crucifixion. 
The  Rector  pointed  out  that  such  a  window  in  that  part 
of  the  church  would  disarrange  the  entire  scheme  as 
originally  laid  out.  Those  who  have  seen  the  lack  of 
good  judgment  displayed  in  the  quality  of  the  work,  and 
misplacement  of  the  windows  in  many  of  our  churches 
are  glad  that  Dr.  Little  did  not  set  a  wrong  precedent, 
and  that  he  gently  but  firmly  declined  the  offer.  The 
same  care  exercised  in  the  adornment  of  St.  Mark's  with 
suitable  memorials  was  equally  evident  in  the  order  of 
the  services.  In  this  connection  I  want  to  refer  again  to 
Bishop  McLaren,  who  said  on  more  than  one  occasion 
that  St.  Mark's,  Evanston,  under  Doctor  Little,  set  forth 
the  best  type  of  an  Anglican  service  in  his  diocese.  The 
Bishop  simply  meant  by  this  that  there  was  a  loyal  con- 
formity to  the  standards  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
and  constant  mindfulness  that  things  pertaining  to  the 
services  should  be  done  decently  and  in  order.  Again  and 
again  in  those  years  gone  by  have  I  heard  the  comment 
that  there  was  something  about  the  services  at  St.  Mark's 
which  appealed  irresistibly  even  to  occasional  worship- 
pers,— something  which  could  be  felt  but  not  easily  de- 
fined. In  reality  it  was  little  more  than  a  spiritual  atmos- 
phere, and  an  all-pervading  sense  of  the  fitness  of  things 
which  did  not  confine  itself  to  the  actual  hours  of  service. 

To  speak  in  detail  of  the  more  important  events  of 
Doctor  Little's  pastorate  would  involve  more  time  and 
space  than  are  available  at  the  present  moment.  They 
may  be  summarized  briefly  as  follows,  and  it  was  my 
privilege  to  have  been  present  at  all  of  them : 

Corner-stone  laying  of  the  new  St.  Mark's  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  Sunday  after  Ascension  Day,  May  18, 
1890. 

First  services  in  the  new  church,  Easter  Day,  March 
29,  1891. 

Benediction  of  the  new  church  by  Bishop  McLaren, 
Wednesday,  April  1,  1891. 


Consecration  of  church,  St.  Mark's  Day,  April  25, 
1895. 

Ordination  of  Mr.  Charles  S.  Burch — now  Suffragan 
Bishop  of  New  York — to  the  Diaconate,  1895. 

Benediction  of  the  Rood  Screen,  1899. 

Installation  of  the  Bells,  September,  1901. 

Formal  opening  of  the  Parish  House,  1903. 

Ordination  to  the  Priesthood  of  the  Rev.  Russell  J. 
Wilbur  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  C.  P.  Anderson,  D.D.,  Bishop 
Coadjutor  of  Chicago,  March  6,  1904. 

Benediction  of  the  Comstock  Memorial  Altar  by 
Bishop  Grafton  of  Fond  du  Lac,  January  8,  1905. 

Benediction  of  the  Restored  Sanctuary  and  Choir  by 
the  Rt.  Rev.  R.  H.  Weller,  D.D.,  Bishop  Coadjutor  of 
Fond  du  Lac,  October  29,  1905. 

Inauguration  of  the  Men's  Club.  1905. 

Dedication  of  the  New  Organ,  December  8,  1907. 

There  is  much  more  that  I  would  like  to  say  of  the 
days  prior  to  1910  and  since  that  time,  but  it  must  be  left 
unsaid,  unless  I  can  include  it  in  the  brief  sketch  of  the 
Choir  to  which  I  made  reference  last  month.  What  I 
have  already  written,  some  may  look  upon  as  a  sort  of 
eulogy  of  the  eighth  Rector  of  St.  Mark's  rather  than  as 
an  account  of  my  own  experiences  in  the  parish.  I  plead 
guilty  to  having  made  such  an  attempt,  for  it  is  much 
more  important  that  the  name  and  work  of  Doctor  Little 
should  live  in  the  affection  of  generations  to  come  than 
that  of  the  writer.  And  yet,  in  the  event  of  my  never 
seeing  America  and  St.  Mark's  again,  I  have  a  longing 
not  to  be  entirely  forgotten.  Some  of  you  have  assured 
me  that  I  have  been  of  help  to  you  and  to  the  parish  in 
many  other  ways  than  through  the  music  of  the  services. 
If  this  is  so,  I  trust  it  will  not  be  thought  that  I  am 
presuming  too  much  if,  in  all  humblemindedness,  I  make 
my  own  the  words  of  one  of  the  greatest  Churchmen  of 
the  last  century  when  severing  connections  much  more 
vital  than  mine  have  been,  or  could  ever  be  at  St.  Mark's 
— "If  what  he  has  said  or  done  has  ever  made  you  take 


interest  in  him,  and  feel  well  inclined  toward  him,  remem- 
ber such  a  one  in  time  to  come,  though  you  hear  him  not, 
and  pray  for  him,  that  in  all  things  he  may  know  God's 
will,  and,  at  all  times  he  may  be  ready  to  fulfill  it." 

May  God  ever  bless  St.  Mark's  and  keep  it  true  to 
the  best  traditions  of  the  past. 

Robert  Holmes. 


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